Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will be put to death for several charges of rape and extortion , charges that differ greatly from his original sentence of apostasy , Iran 's semi-official Fars News agency reported Friday . Gholomali Rezvani , the deputy governor of Gilan province , where Nadarkhani was tried and convicted , accused Western media of twisting the real story , referring to him as a `` rapist . '' A previous report from the news agency claimed he had committed several violent crimes , including repeated rape and extortion . `` His crime is not , as some claim , converting others to Christianity , '' Rezvani told Fars . `` He is guilty of security-related crimes . '' In a translated Iranian Supreme Court brief from 2010 , however , the charge of apostasy is the only charge leveled against Nadarkhani . `` Mr. Youcef Nadarkhani , son of Byrom , 32-years old , married , born in Rasht in the state of Gilan is convicted of turning his back on Islam , the greatest religion the prophesy of Mohammad at the age of 19 , '' reads the brief . The brief was obtained by CNN from the American Center for Law and Justice and was translated from its original Farsi by the Confederation of Iranian Students in Washington . It goes on to say that during the court proceeding , Nadarkhani denied the prophecy of Mohammad and the authority of Islam . `` He ( Nadarkhani ) has stated that he is a Christian and no longer Muslim , '' states the brief . `` During many sessions in court with the presence of his attorney and a judge , he has been sentenced to execution by hanging according to article 8 of Tahrir -- olvasileh . '' Rezvani , the official from Gilan province , confirmed that his execution is `` not imminent '' nor is it final . Mohammadali Dadkhah , the pastor 's lawyer , said through a translator that even in light of the Fars News report , he does not believe Nadarkhani will be put to death . `` The case is still in progress , '' Dadkhah said . `` There 's a 95 % that he wo n't get the death penalty . Yes , I still believe that . '' Dadkhah spoke briefly of the trial proceedings , stating that he presented documents to the court that should be convincing , including documents from Shi'ite leaders that state the crime does not warrant the possible punishment . `` This is a legal process that should take its course , and it should stand , on its own merits . It should succeed , '' Dadkhah said . Nadarkhani , the leader of a network of house churches in Iran , was first convicted of apostasy in November 2010 , a charge he subsequently appealed all the way to the Iranian Supreme Court . After four days of an appeals trial that started Sunday at a lower court in Gilan Province , Nadarkhani refused to recant his beliefs . That said , Rezvani -- echoing an earlier report from Fars -- insisted that `` Nadarkhani 's crime and his death sentence have nothing to do with his beliefs . `` No one is executed in Iran for their choice of religion , '' he added . `` He is a Zionist and has committed security-related crimes . '' The possible execution of Nadarkhani , based on an assumption it is tied to his Christian belief , has elicited responses from the highest levels of the United States government , too . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement Friday that said the United States stands with `` all Iranians against the Iranian government 's hypocritical statements and actions . '' The White House released a statement on Thursday , stating that Nadarkhani `` has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith , which is a universal right for people . '' `` That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend , crosses all bounds of decency and breaches Iran 's own international obligations , '' reads the statement . Leonard Leo , chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , says a trial for apostasy in Iran is rare . According to him , this is the first apostasy trial since 1990 . Nadarkhani 's trial and his possible execution have engaged American Christians , as well . Todd Nettleton , spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs , a Christian organization that attempts to assist with persecuted and minority churches around the world , called the news of the new charges proof that international attention on the issue is working . `` They are feeling the attention , they are feeling the weight of the eyes of the world watching how they are treating this man , '' Nettleton said . `` I am dumbfounded , though , that at this stage in the game , this is what they would trot out . '' Voice of the Martyrs manages a Facebook page that has brought a lot of attention to Nadarkhani 's trial . With comments updated by the minute , thousand of people have taken to Facebook to spread the word about the pastor . In light of this news , Nettleton said the Facebook page would continue to be active . `` I think our first response will be prayer for pastor Youcef , '' Nettleton said . `` Prayer that justice will be done and that he will remain faithful no matter that the days ahead may bring for him . ''
NEW : Iranian official calls Nadarkhani ` ` rapist ... guilty of security - related crimes '' NEW : Official says Iran does n't kill people because of their religion . He received death sentence for rape and extortion . He is the leader of a network of Islamic churches in Iran .