House Resolution Condemns Iran's Persecution of Religious Minorities And Sentencing of Christian Convert

On Thursday, by a vote of 417-1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Res. 556 condemning Iran's persecution of religious minorities and calling for the release of Youcef Nadarkhani as well as all others held or charged on account of their religion. Nadarkhani is a Muslim convert to Christianity who has been sentenced to death for apostasy and refusing to recant his new faith. (See prior related posting.) The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that the single "no" vote on the House Resolution by Louisiana representative Lois Capps was cast by mistake. She in fact strongly supports the resolution.