Pastor Yousef - A New Trial. But What Does It Mean?

UPDATE: In September 2010 the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province found Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani guilty of apostasy and sentenced him to death - a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court in July 2011.

It is understood that pastor Yousef was verbally informed on 4th July that he will face a new trial in September, on different charges. This has not been confirmed in writing, and Yousef has not been informed as to what any of these new charges would be. If new charges are brought, it is expected (based on the experience of most cases against Christians in Iran in recent months and years) that they would be non-specific political charges, such as "activities against the state" or against state security, rather than religious charges. Yousef has only limited legal support within Iran after a sentence given to his principal lawyer in July 2011 was upheld in April. (Open Doors.)