The Iranian Christian pastor who may be put to death for apostasy and refusing to renounce his religion is actually facing the death sentence for charges of rape and extortion, according to western rights groups monitoring Iranian state media. Continue reading after the jump.

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Fars, the semi-official Iranian state news service, in reports Saturday, attempted to refute that Youcef Nadarkhani, 32, was facing the death sentence for refusal to renounce Christianity.
“His crime is not, as some claim, converting others to Christianity,” Gholomali Rezvani, the deputy governor of the Gilan province, told Fars. “He is guilty of security-related crimes.”
The Fars comments are part of an Iranian media push in recent days to counter reports from Western media, including Fox News, about why Nadarkhani was facing execution.
Nadarkhani’s attorney, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told The Associated Press Thursday that his client had appeared before the appeals court within the last few days and that he believed there is a “95 percent chance” of acquittal.
Dadkhah said neither Iranian law nor clerics have ever stipulated the death penalty as punishment for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Also Thursday, the White House condemned the conviction and possible death sentence Thursday, saying the execution would further demonstrate Iranian authorities “utter disregard” for religious freedom.

FN