WHAT WE FACE – AT 9:44 A.M. ET:  President Obama came to office with the idea of "engaging" the Muslim world.  That effort has resulted in absolutely nothing.  In fact, the most belligerent of the Muslim countries have actually become more hostile.

The worst, and most dangerous, is Iran.  And what is the character of the regime there?  It has now sentenced to death a Christian pastor who refuses to renounce his Christianity.  The story is now growing around the world.  It is possible the execution may take place within days unless it is stopped:

In 2010, the Iranian regime carried out 546 executions, more than at any other time during the preceding decade, and representing an increase of around 25 per cent on the previous year. Increasingly, execution is becoming Tehran's favored method for dealing with anyone it deems an opponent -- like Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who has refused to recant his Christian faith.

Pastor Nadarkhani's case is another grim illustration of the volatile situation faced by religious minorities living under Iran's Islamist clerics. Even though the state formally recognizes the existence of Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, these minorities are under no illusions about their subordinate status...

...Pastor Nadarkhani's embrace of Christianity, is a prime example of "moharebeh," and carries the penalty of death. This is despite the fact that Nadarkhani maintains he has never been a Muslim as an adult. But an Islamic court has determined that he has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith.

COMMENT:  We will keep you informed of developments.  The Iranian regime has occasionally shown itself to be responsive to international protests, if only to improve its image and to influence simpler minds in the West.  We'd like to hear from President Obama.

September 30, 2011