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Subject: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:08 am
In Sept 2012, pastor Saeed was arrested while building orphanages in Iran. He's an American citizen charged with spreading the gospel. He's in the toughest prison in Iran and reports are that he's been beaten and tortured and starting to feel hopeless, wondering if he's been forgotten. sign the petition at ACLJ.org and help them put pressure on the Obama admin to do something about this and release our good brother.
Last edited by researcher on Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:33 pm; edited 6 times in total (Reason for editing : Unpin)
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:21 pm
GOD be with him...
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:59 am
His wife and children live here in the States, his parents are under house arrest in Iran. He isn't allowed to speak to his children or wife. Please pray for him.
Quote :
American pastor Saeed Abedini is reportedly being tortured in an Iranian prison as an appeal against his 8-year sentence is being filed.
"When I heard this from my husband, I cried. It broke my heart. Behind those walls he feels helpless and relies on us to be his voice. It is so easy to feel forgotten in the walls of the prison. Please help me make sure he is never forgotten," Pastor Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, told the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) after visiting her husband on Monday.
The ACLJ, which is representing Naghmeh and the couple's two children in the U.S., added in a media statement that Abedini remains cut off from speaking with his family following the trial in January. He was arrested in September 2012 during one of his many visits to his place of birth while working on an orphanage, and has been imprisoned ever since.
After what was described as a "sham" trial, the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran deemed Abedini guilty of "threatening the national security" of Iran for helping underground Christian churches in his home country in 2000, the same year he converted from Islam to Christianity. His lawyer in Iran has filed an appeal against the sentence.
The 32-year-old pastor had been allowed to speak with his wife periodically over the phone, but even now those sparse phone calls have been prohibited. Naghmeh said that she does not know when or if they will ever hear his voice again.
"We continue our work here at home and around the world to bring attention to Pastor Saeed's case and generate global pressure on Iran to release him," said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the ACLJ.
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"Pastor Saeed has not been forgotten. While Pastor Saeed's family was able to inform him of some of the ongoing efforts for his release, there is more we can and must do to secure his freedom," Sekulow added.
John Kerry, the new U.S. Secretary of State, and several other U.S. agencies have condemned Iran for its imprisonment and unjust trial of Abedini and called for his release.
"We remain deeply concerned about the fairness and transparency of Mr. Abedini's trial," Kerry told Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) when asked for his response to Abedini's case last week. "I, along with the U.S. government, condemn Iran's continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion and call on the Iranian authorities to respect Mr. Abedini's human rights and release him."
While the ACLJ have praised Kerry comments, it continues to urge people to sign a petition calling for the release of the American pastor, showing him that he has not been forgotten and the efforts to free him continue.
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-tortured-feeling-helpless-as-plea-to-free-him-continues-89560/#fJQ8HKFR03kxfUpx.99
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:16 am
Praise Father for all the musicians and actors that are spreading the word! Go to save saeed.org and bring him home!
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:43 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini Being Pressured to Deny Christ in Iranian Jail
February 22, 2013|9:58 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini, the American pastor serving an 8-year sentence in Tehran, Iran, is being pressured into converting back to Islam, but he has said that that will never happen.
"After all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ," Abedini wrote in a letter obtained by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), who is representing his wife and two children back in America.
The pastor, however, has said that "they will never get this from me," and expressed his gratitude to the over 260,000 people who have signed a petition calling for his release.
Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ Executive Director, said that he hopes that number will climb to 300,000 before his organization meets with U.N. Human Rights officials on March 5.
"Now is the time to redouble our efforts to save this courageous pastor, this U.S. citizen, from the darkness of an Iranian prison," Sekulow wrote.
The Iranian-born pastor is currently serving an eight year sentence in Evin Prison in Tehran, where he has been held since his arrest in September 2012. The Iranian court convicted him of endangering national security, but the ACLJ say that the real reason behind the trial was that Abedini has helped many Christians in underground churches in Iran since his conversion to Christianity in 2000.
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Abedini, who then married his American wife, Naghmeh, was working on an orphanage for underprivileged children when he was arrested by Iranian authorities in September.
A number of notable Christian leaders, including Bart Millard, lead singer of the Dove award-winning Christian band Mercy Me, have called for Abedini's release. Naghmeh said that her husband was encouraged when she was allowed to visit him in prison recently and share with him the amount of prayers and support he has been receiving.
"When I first met Saeed, music was an important part of worship and prayer," Naghmeh said. "He would often listen to Christian radio. When he heard about Savesaeed.org and the number of artists that he admired he was encouraged by their involvement – advocating for his release. It brought him hope as he suffers in his dark prison."
Last week, more than 80 U.S. Senators and Representatives called on Secretary of State John Kerry to "exhaust every possible option" to try and secure the release of pastor Abedini.
"Every American citizen traveling or living abroad should have the assurance that the U.S. government will come vigorously to his or her defense if they are unjustly detained or imprisoned," the congressmen's letter reads.
"We respectfully request that you continue to use every diplomatic avenue possible, in cooperation with our allies and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to secure Mr. Abedini's unconditional release and personally and publicly condemn his arbitrary detention in a statement."
Kerry has condemned "Iran's continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion" and has called on authorities to release the imprisoned pastor.
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-being-pressured-to-deny-christ-in-iranian-jail-90565/#hLdmj2yKW73uj0RL.99
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:37 am
Thank you for posting this ColonelZ, I just heard yesterday that they were pressuring him to deny Jesus, now they've proven that his arrest was purely because he is a Christian. They denied it before. Father be with him!
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:48 pm
Pastor Saeed's latest letter form Evin Prison, Iran
Quote :
Writing from my heart.
My Dear Friends,
The conditions here get so very difficult that my eyes get blurry, my body does not have the strength to walk, and my steps become very weak and shaky.
Various (bullying) groups, the psychological warfare, a year of not seeing my family, physical violence, actions committed to humiliate me, insults, being mocked, being confronted with extremists in the prison who create another prison within the prison walls, and the death threats…
It is interesting that because I am a Christian pastor, I am carefully watched. I am expected to smile at them despite what is being done and to understand why they are doing all of these things. But, of course, I can clearly see what is going on and because I want to serve God, I see all of these difficulties as golden opportunities and great doors to serve. There are empty containers who are thirsty for a taste of the Living Water and we can quench their thirst by giving them Jesus Christ. Maybe you are also in such a situation, so pray and seek God that He would use you and direct you in the pressures and difficulties of your lives.
There are those who are enemies of the Living Bible and do not want to hear. They are trying to put me under such horrific pressures (that are sometimes unbearable) so that they can show me that my faith is empty and not real. And after all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me. This is why the Bible is Truth and they are in the way of destruction.
There is another group who does not know the Gospel of Truth. Instead of truly listening and meditating on God’s Word, they are just waiting to see how I react to all of their pressures and persecution. What will come out of me during these intense times? But again, this is another golden opportunity for me to shine the light of Christ in this dark world and to let God to use me.
Yesterday when I was singing worship songs, the head of my cell room attacked me in order to stop me from praising but in response I hugged him and showed him love. He was shocked.
It is during these harsh conditions, that I deeply need God’s Saving Grace so that I can be the fragrant scent of Christ in the dark house of Evin prison. I have often seen the Shining Morning Star in the darkness of this prison and I have seen His amazing and supernatural works. Oh, how beautiful is seeing the light of the Shining Morning Star of Christ in such evil darkness.
So: •See your golden opportunities in pressures and difficulties. •See the Shining Morning Star in the dark times of your life.
I Love Him! He is Gracious, Merciful, and Righteous to me. I now know that I have not been forgotten and that we are together in this path. God gives me Grace. This is my message for the Church: Stay Strong for His Glory. He will come back soon! Be with God and give your best efforts for His kingdom.
Pastor Saeed, servant of Jesus Christ in chains for endurance of Gospel. I love you all.
Last edited by Delfi on Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:59 pm; edited 3 times in total
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:54 pm
What started as a legal effort to free an American pastor from one of Iran's most deadly prisons has turned into an international movement.
On Saturday morning, our petition to free Pastor Saeed Abedini – a U.S. citizen – hit 300,000 signatures, and more are adding their names each day.
At the March 5 U.N. meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, our legal team will be empowered with hundreds of thousands signatures, but we must be relentless in our support for Pastor Saeed. He is still in chains for the Gospel.
Last week we learned that Iran is trying to force him to deny Christ, but he is courageously resisting and has vowed to never yield.
Pastor Saeed has not forgotten his Savior. We must not forget Pastor Saeed. If you have not yet joined the global movement to Save Saeed, now is the time.
Sign the Petition to Save an American Pastor from Iranian Prison, and pray for him. Save Saeed.org
Jordan Sekulow ACLJ Executive Director
Delfi Elite
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:02 pm
Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:47 am
Interesting that the name of the prison is Evin looks similar to Evil (if you ask me ). Signed the petition only days ago. Took some prayer and courage on my part because they ask for an address. But very glad I signed. I Just joined facebook and feel so bold that I'm gonna share the link with my friends too. Actions Father actions. Words are one thing but it's our actions that count/matter.
Thanks for posting Delfi.
Father, send the most courageous Angels to Saeed. And may he win some souls for You.
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Subject: Christians on trial for 'action against national security' Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:58 am
Christians on trial for 'action against national security'
'Government is looking to stop the spread of Christianity' Published: 13 hours ago byMichael CarlEmail | Archive
Iran is now putting five Christians arrested in October on trial for “action against national security” in what some say is the Islamic republic’s all-out effort to stop the spread of Christianity.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported that Church of Iran members Mohammad Roghangir, Surush Saraie, Eskandar Rezaie, Shahin Lahooti and Massoud Rezaie will stand trial before the Revolutionary Court for disturbing public order, evangelizing, action against national security and Internet activity against the system.
The Iranian Christian news site Mohabat News reported that in addition to the five arrested in October, four other Christian believers arrested more than a year ago are still being held in the Revolutionary Guard prison in Shiraz.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide spokesman Kiri Kankhwende said his organization stands by the Iranian Christians.
“We continue to advocate in the international arena for these and many other prisoners in Iran. The prisoners may well be imprisoned for longer, though they have already been detained for some time,” Kankhwende said.
He said the Iranian government has one simple goal.
“By sentencing Christians such as these, the Iranian government is looking to stop the spread of Christianity,” Kankhwende said.
In a statement to the press, CSW Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said by persecuting these Christians, Iran is violating its own law.
“Once again Iranian Christians face charges couched in political terms that in reality stem from their choice of faith and desire to exercise the right to worship in community with others, as guaranteed in article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Iran is party,” Johnston said.
ACLJ International Director Tiffany Barrans said this aggressive act of jailing and trying Christian leaders reflects the regime’s desperation in dealing with Christianity in advance of the approaching election.
“In the lead up the Iranian elections, scheduled for June 14, 2013, it is abundantly clear that the Iranian Regime is terrorizing the Christian community and other minorities in an attempt to force Iranians into submission,” she said.
The Iranian government has the wrong idea about Iranian Christians, Barrans argued.
“What Iran does not realize with the Christian community is that the exercise of their faith is not based on politics or an attempt to undermine the government,” she said.
Iran’s treatment of American pastor Saeed Abedini is an example of the regime’s anti-Christian hysteria, according to Barrans.
At the same time, Iran is planning to put nine Church of Iran members on trial, American Center for Law and Justice spokesman Gene Kapp said his group presented pastor Abedini’s human rights case before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“In the oral presentation before the Human Rights Council, our attorney told the U.N. that the imprisonment of pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen, is a violation of international law and called on Iran to release him,” Kapp said.
“At the same time, the U.S. State Department expressed its concern again about the imprisonment of pastor Saeed and called for his release,” he said.
Kapp noted that there is growing support for Abedini from the American public.
“More than 420,000 people have signed on to a petition demanding his release,” Kapp said.
Reports on the nine Church of Iran believers and Pastor Abedini are consistent with a recent trend in Iran toward more persecution of all religious minorities.
International Christian Concern documents the plight of three other Christians who have been arrested and put on trial in the past three months.
Charisma News confirms ICC’s reports. Charisma News reported in November that there is a wave of anti-Christian activity.
“Reports of Iranian authorities arresting Christians for their faith are pouring in, indicating that the Islamic nation is running a massive campaign targeting house churches,” Charisma News reported.
Also, a report from Iran claimed Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani had been executed.
Assist News Service reported an Anglican cleric in Iraq said an Iranian news report claimed Nadarkhani had been put to death.
Barrans said the report was an Internet rumor, and “several of our sources today talked directly with pastor Youcef himself.”
In further confirmation, Islam activist Walid Shoebat said the rumor started from an Arabic source.
“I can say that pastor Youcef is not dead,” Shoebat said. “All the Arabic sources I researched say that Nadarkhani is still alive.”
However, Shoebat added, another man wasn’t so fortunate.
“The man who was hanged is a Sunni dissident and not Nadarkhani,” he said.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/christians-tried-for-action-against-national-security/#eTIeW9HjA95cpj7x.99
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:44 am
Published March 15, 2013 http://vineoflife.net/2013/03/15/update-fox-news-pastor-saeeds-wife-pleas-for-help-as-state-department-absent-video/
I want to know the thoughts of God. Everything else is just details. A Miracle is when God makes His Reality our Experience
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Subject: FINALLY! U.S. ASKS FOR JAILED PASTOR'S FREEDOM Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:59 pm
FINALLY! U.S. ASKS FOR JAILED PASTOR'S FREEDOM
Wife of prisoner in Iran says she's 'encouraged' Published: 8 hours ago by MICHAEL CARL Email | Archive
The wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini says she’s “very encouraged” by Secretary of State John Kerry’s call for Iran to release Abedini from prison.
Kerry released the statement while traveling in the Middle East with President Obama.
“I am deeply concerned about the fate of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who has been detained for nearly six months and was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs. I am disturbed by reports that Mr. Abedini has suffered physical and psychological abuse in prison, and that his condition has become increasingly dire. Such mistreatment violates international norms as well as Iran’s own laws,” Kerry’s statement said.
“I am also troubled by the lack of due process in Mr. Abedini’s case and Iran’s continued refusal to allow consular access by Swiss authorities, the U.S. protecting power in Iran. I welcome reports that Mr. Abedini was examined by a physician and expect Iranian authorities to honor their commitment to allow Mr. Abedini to receive treatment for these injuries from a specialist outside the prison. The best outcome for Mr. Abedini is that he be immediately released,” the statement said.
The high-level intervention, should it actually produce results, may be coming just in time.
In a letter Abedini was able to have delivered to his family, he said, “I did not recognize myself.”
“My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown,” Abedini wrote on scraps of newspaper – the only paper available.
American Center for Law and Justice Executive Director Jordan Sekulow says he can’t say how the letter made it out of the prison for security reasons.
Abedini was given the eight-year sentence for “activities against the state.” Since he was confined, the ACLJ’s sources have given regular reports of the pastor’s precarious health situation.
Sekulow confirms that Abedini’s condition is a major issue.
“Pastor Saeed’s health has been of grave concern for some time now. And now we have just heard from him directly. In a letter he penned to his wife, Naghmeh, Pastor Saeed confirms what we have been told from the beginning – he is facing beatings, torture and isolation on a daily basis,” Sekulow said.
He reported the beatings are taking a toll on him, and prison officials are neglecting his condition. Sekulow said.
“After multiple beatings in interrogations at the hands of the radical Islamic regime, Pastor Saeed wrote that the nurse who was supposed to treat injured inmates told him that in our religion (Islam) ‘we are not supposed to touch you,’ because Christians are unclean,” Sekulow said.
“The pastor said that they would not give him the pain medication that they would give other prisoners because he was unclean,” Sekulow said.
“We know that his health is fragile. Even with medical treatment, he faces extremely harsh conditions, life-threatening treatment – simply because of his Christian faith,” Sekulow said.
The health concerns were also addressed by the U. S. Ambassador to the U.N. Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe in comments made to the U. N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva. The ambassador called for Iran to release Abedini.
Donahoe also called on the government of Iran “to provide without delay the urgent medical attention Mr. Abedini needs.”
Sekulow says that while he’s glad for the ambassador’s statement, the statement was too long in coming.
“It took a congressional hearing – which the State Department refused to attend – increasing pressure from Congress and the media – meetings with the State Department – and more than 500,000 signatures on our petition calling for Pastor Saeed’s release,” Sekulow said.
Sekulow says that Abedini’s wife, Nagmeh, is understandably concerned about her husband’s condition. She testified to a Congressional committee recently that “every day that her husband faces in the notorious Evin prison, is like a death sentence.”
“Saeed is a husband and amazing father. The kids and I miss him terribly. Our kids hold onto the hope of seeing their daddy very soon. The truth is we do not know if we will ever speak to him or see him again. Many mornings they wake up and start running around the house and in the yard,” Nagmeh said.
“I still do not have the heart to tell them that if we don’t do anything, that daddy might never survive the horrific Evin prison. I do not have the heart to tell them of the eight-year sentence. I do hope we can work together to bring Saeed home and I will never have to tell my kids of the dire situation their father is in,” Nagmeh said.
Sekulow says there is a glimmer of hope coming out of Iran.
“There’s some hopeful information coming out of our sources in Iran. We have learned that Pastor Saeed, who has been suffering from internal bleeding from the beatings and torture he has received from his captors, has been examined by a doctor at the prison,” Sekulow said.
“We are also told that he will be taken to a hospital outside the prison for treatment. But, with all promises made by Iran – we are hopeful – but need promises backed up with action. We will continue to monitor that situation through our sources in Iran,” Sekulow said.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/finally-u-s-asks-for-jailed-pastors-freedom/#kYqmcqGJvmTeigsO.99
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Abedini Given Ultimatum: 'Deny Christ or Face Longer Prison Time' Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:43 pm
Looks like a longer prison stay.....
Pastor Saeed Abedini Given Ultimatum: 'Deny Christ or Face Longer Prison Time'
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter April 11, 2013|12:45 pm
Iranian authorities have posed U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini with an ultimatum to deny Christ, or spend more time in prison.
"Deny your faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam or else you will not be released from prison. We will make sure you are kept here even after your 8 year sentence is finished," the authorities said, according to a letter by Abedini that was recently obtained by the American Center for Law and Justice.
The pastor, who was sentenced to eight years in January in what the law group says was a "sham trial" that targeted him for his Christian faith, had earlier shared of some of the abuse he faced in prison in a letter to his wife, Naghmeh Abedini, and their two children. He has stated that he will not abandon Christ in the face of such persecution. But the newly released letter reveals the specific threats the authorities have made against him in Evin Prison in Tehran.
"My response to them is Romans 8:35-39. The reality of Christian living is that difficulties or problems do arise in our lives. Persecution and difficulties are not new occurrences, but are seen often in the Christian life. It is through the suffering and tribulations that we are to enter the Kingdom of God," the U.S. citizen said in his letter.
The ACLJ, which is representing the pastor's family back in the U.S. and has been at the forefront of campaigning for Abedini's release, commended the pastor for his strong faith in the face of mental and physical abuse.
"My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown," Abedini wrote in a letter in March. "The nurse would also come to take care of us and provide us with treatment, but she said in front of others 'in our religion we are not suppose to touch you, you are unclean. Baha'i (religion) and Christians are unclean!' She did not treat me and that night I could not sleep from the intense pain I had."
The U.S. State Department, Secretary of State John Kerry and the European Union have all called for the pastor's release, and over 550,000 people worldwide from over 180 countries have signed a petition lending him support.
"Pastor Saeed is refusing to deny Christ. We must let him know that we will never forget him and will never stop working for his release," the ACLJ has said.
The law group also started a letter-writing campaign for Abedini's birthday on May 7, hoping that all the notes will "flood" Evin Prison. Those who wish to add their letter to the 20,000 already written can do so by going to SaveSaeed.org.
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-given-ultimatum-deny-christ-or-face-longer-prison-time-93736/#Yi9oqv7cAdtY2TE1.99
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Abedini Severely Beaten, Fainting From Internal Bleeding Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:28 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini Severely Beaten, Fainting From Internal Bleeding
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter April 15, 2013|5:18 pm T he American Center for Law and Justice received news that U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini has been severely beaten in Evin Prison in Tehran, denied proper medical care, and experiencing fainting spells.
"Pastor Saeed reported today that last week he was severely beaten when the prison officials took him to the hospital. During the weekly prison visit today, Pastor Saeed's family reported that his physical condition is worsening – seeing first-hand the marks and symptoms left by the recent beating. These beatings and the internal injuries are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting spells," the law group, which is representing Abedini's wife and two children back in America, revealed in a statement on Monday.
The Iranian-born pastor, who converted to Christianity and was building an orphanage for children when he was arrested in Tehran last year, was sentenced to eight years in prison in January for "endangering national security." The ACLJ called that a "sham trail," however, noting that the real reason behind Abedini's sentence was his faith.
The U.S. State Department, Secretary of State John Kerry, a number of U.S. congressmen, and the European Union have all called for the pastor's release, and more than 560,000 people from around the world have signed a petition in his support.
Inside Evin prison, Abedini has been pressured to deny his faith in Christ, and even threatened that he will not be released after the 8-year sentence unless he does so, but the pastor has refused to recant his faith.
He has been suffering from internal bleeding because of the beatings, however, and his wife Naghmeh has expressed deep concern for his well-being.
"I can not express in words how concerned I am about Saeed's physical and mental health," Naghmeh stated. "He is now continually attacked and threatened. The Iranian government should know that we are watching and aware of what they are doing to Saeed inside Evin prison. We need to speak louder until Saeed is home safely on U.S. soil."
In his own words, Abedini wrote in a letter in March: "My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown. The nurse would also come to take care of us and provide us with treatment, but she said in front of others 'in our religion we are not suppose to touch you, you are unclean. Baha'i (religion) and Christians are unclean!' She did not treat me and that night I could not sleep from the intense pain I had."
ACLJ added that the authorities' refusal to provide proper medical treatment to Abedini is "inhumane and a gross violation of Iran's international obligations," noting that officials have said it could be two months before the U.S. citizen received proper medical care.
The Iranian authorities have also been stepping up their psychological torture of Abedini. The pastor revealed that cellmates have been threatening to suffocate him in his sleep and try and make it look like an accident, something which the ACLJ said is weighing heavily on his mind.
The law group has launched a letter-writing campaign for Abedini's birthday, which is May 7.
Read more at http://global.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-severely-beaten-fainting-from-internal-bleeding-93977/#lygmZorDuwEZMUM1.99
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Subject: MORE BEATINGS FOR AMERICAN PASTOR IN IRAN Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:36 am
MORE BEATINGS FOR AMERICAN PASTOR IN IRAN Legal team cites reports from Pastor Saeed Abedini's family members Published: 2 hours ago
A report from a legal team advocating for an American pastor jailed by the Islamic regime in Iran confirms that there have been more beatings – and little medical treatment available.
Saeed Abedini is locked up Iran’s notorious Evin Prison.
Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said Abedini’s physical condition is worsening amid the continued beatings from prison guards.
“Following a brief visit from family members today, we have learned Pastor Saeed continues to suffer from the effects of a brutal beating one week ago and continues to be denied medical care,” Sekulow said.
Reports also indicate that Abedini is experiencing extreme physical fatigue and attacks of fainting and physical weakness.
“That (most recent) attack came after Iranian officials refused to provide him with medical care to treat already existing internal bleeding,” Sekulow said. “The new beating has resulted in further injuries which are causing him frequent fainting spells.”
WND reported in March that the Iranian government was promising medical care for Pastor Abedini.
However, the promise is going unfulfilled, according to Sekulow.
“Pastor Saeed repeated today what he has been told by prison guards – that he is not likely to receive any medical treatment for another two months,” Sekulow said.
The continuing denial of medical attention is alarming to Abedini’s family in Iran and in the United States.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/more-beatings-for-american-pastor-in-iran/#JdXYkrLfXuAF3U56.99
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Abedini Excluded From State Department's Iran Prisoners List Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:44 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini Excluded From State Department's Iran Prisoners List
Naghmeh Abedini speaking to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Friday, March 15, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
By Anugrah Kumar , Christian Post Contributor April 27, 2013|11:28 am
The U.S. State Department's "virtual embassy" to Iran, which highlights that country's human rights abuses, has a site listing those jailed for dissent or religious beliefs but it doesn't include imprisoned American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been tortured because of his Christian faith.
"Our Virtual Embassy Tehran page has a Faces of Iran site that highlights the cases of dozens of individuals imprisoned in Iran for their political or religious beliefs, their status as a journalist, human rights or women's defender, their role as a student activist, or for simply exercising their universal human right to speak freely," department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters Thursday. "So we call on the Government of Iran to protect this fundamental human right for all its citizens and to support press freedom by releasing journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work."
The page Ventrell referred to carries dozens of names, but not that of Pastor Abedini, who was convicted in Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Court in January for "threatening the national security." He was sentenced to eight years in Tehran's deadly Evin Prison.
The State Department claims there's a reason why Abedini, whose dual citizenship is not recognized by Iran, has not been included in the list.
Abedini was not put on the list because State Department officials are advocating on his behalf based on his status as an American citizen and do not want to dilute that argument by calling him an Iranian citizen, a State Department official told The Washington Examiner. The Faces of Iran page is a work in progress that will feature a new Iranian prisoner with each passing week, the official added.
"The omission of Pastor Saeed Abedini's name from this State Department website is disappointing and represents a missed opportunity for our government to stand-up for the rights of a U.S. citizen, who also happens to be an Iranian citizen," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said in a statement. "It's clear that the State Department is calling attention to those Iranian citizens whose rights have been violated. Doesn't a U.S. citizen – who holds dual citizenship – deserve to be included on this list?"
ACLJ, which says Abedini's imprisonment violates Iran's own constitution and multiple international human rights treaties that Iran has signed, is representing Abedini's family in the U.S. The pastor's wife, Naghmeh, who was born in Iran, lives with their two children, ages 6 and 5, in Idaho.
Last month when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for Abedini's "immediate" release, Naghmeh appeared hopeful. "I am very encouraged by Secretary Kerry's statement demanding Saeed's immediate release," she said in a statement released by the ACLJ.
"I am very happy to read that although Secretary Kerry has asked for medical treatment for Saeed, he does not stop there, and states that the best outcome is Saeed's immediate release," she said. "I hope to see more proactive actions from our government. Saeed and I are both proud to be Americans. I am hopeful that this will put more pressure on the Iranian government to act and free Saeed so he can return to our family in the United States."
Naghmeh had earlier said she was disappointed with the government. "I'm disappointed that our president and our State Department has not fully engaged in this case," she said after the State Department did not provide a witness for a hearing at which she testified recently. "I'm disappointed that this great country is not doing more to free my husband – a U.S. citizen. Yes, we are both proud to be American citizens. And I expect more from our government."
In a recent letter written from prison, Abedini described the harsh conditions, saying, "My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown. The nurse would also come to take care of us and provide us with treatment, but she said in front of others 'in our religion we are not supposed to touch you, you are unclean. Baha'i (religion) and Christians are unclean!' She did not treat me and that night I could not sleep from the intense pain I had."
Saeed – who grew up in Iran before converting to Christianity at the age of 20 – traveled with his family back and forth between Iran and the U.S. several times in the past few years to meet his family and for Christian work. During one such trip in 2009, he was detained by Iranian officials and interrogated for his conversion. While he was released with a warning against engaging in any more underground church activities, he was once again arrested last July while working on a non-sectarian orphanage project.
This weekend, the people of Nampa, Idaho, are organizing a charity walk in support of Abedini. The goal is to let the Abedini family know "beyond the shadow of a doubt" that the people care about them, organizer Annette Welburn told the Idaho Statesman.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-saeed-abedini-excluded-from-state-departments-iran-prisoners-list-94837/#b9PJku5tTG03IsoE.99
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Spends Birthday in Solitary Thu May 09, 2013 11:17 am
Pastor Saeed Spends Birthday in Solitary
CBNNews.com Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Saeed Abedini, an American pastor imprisoned in Iran, turns 33 today.
Iranian authorities arrested Pastor Saeed 223 days ago for refusing to deny his faith. He's spending his birthday in solitary confinement where he's been held since late April.
Pastor Saeed has been incarcerated for six months in the country's infamous Evin Prison, reputedly one of worst anywhere in the world. Iranian authorities sentenced him to eight years as an alleged threat to "national security."
Prison officials turned away family members who tried to visit him the day before his birthday.
Meanwhile, there are growing concerns about his health. He is said to be hemorrhaging internally from the unrelenting beatings he's been subject to by prison officials.
On May 19, churches across the United States and around the world are being urged to join in a day of prayer for Pastor Saeed.
***Find out how you can pressure Iran with letters to Saeed at SaveSaeed.org.
Subject: Saeed Abedini released from solitary in hopeful sign Fri May 10, 2013 10:32 am
Saeed Abedini released from solitary in hopeful sign RELIGION
Photo courtesy of the American Center for Law and Justice Saeed Abedini and his son Iranian authorities released American pastor Saeed Abedini from solitary confinement today after forcing him to spend the week of his birthday in a “small dark hole,” according to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
Abedini, imprisoned for 225 days in Evin Prison because of his Christian faith, turned 33 on May 7 while in solitary confinement. Supporters sent more than 52,500 birthday messages to the prison addressed to Abedini.
His wife, Naghmeh, wrote in a letter: "With tightness in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears streaming down my face … I promise to stand strong in the strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fighting with every strength of my being until you are united to our family again.”
Abedini and nine other prisoners were sent to solitary confinement April 29 after fellow prisoners protested Iran’s lack of medical care, representatives from the ACLJ said. During his time in solitary, Abedini’s family in Iran was not allowed to visit him.
The family worries about Abedini’s health: He complained of internal bleeding from beatings by prison guards even before the solitary confinement and had been denied medical treatment for his injuries. The ACLJ told WORLD last month that Abedini suffers from frequent fainting, constant abdominal pain, blood in his stool, and is in need of immediate medical attention.
Naghmeh told the ACLJ that her husband’s return to the general prison is a hopeful sign: “His release from solitary is a direct result of the multitudes praying. I am relieved my husband is out of solitary, but still am deeply concerned about Saeed’s health. While this is a small victory, I am still demanding justice be done and that Saeed be released.”
Even with the Iranian government’s continued persecution of Christians like Abedini, Christianity is growing at an explosive rate in the country, according to Open Doors USA. About 40 years ago, Iran had just 200 Christians from a Muslim background. Now, some estimate as many as 370,000 converts attend house churches.
Opens Doors claims many Iranians became disillusioned about Islam after it became the country’s official religion in 1979. Especially after the 2009 elections, young people have been seeking truth elsewhere, often in house churches. Christianity is growing in Iran at about 20 percent annually, the fastest growth rate in the entire world.
Despite the pain Abedini is facing, in his latest letter dated March 9 he continued to hold on to his faith: “The reality of Christian living is that difficulties or problems do arise in our lives. Persecution and difficulties are not new occurrences, but are often seen in the Christian life. It is through the suffering and tribulations that we are to enter the Kingdom of God.”
He closed the letter with “Pastor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see you soon.”
Read WORLD's full coverage of Saeed Abedini's case.
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Subject: Prayers from Prison: American pastor held in Iran releases letter Wed May 22, 2013 10:27 pm
Prayers from Prison: American pastor held in Iran releases letter By Lisa Daftari Published May 22, 2013 FoxNews.com
The American pastor jailed in Iran for his Christian faith has managed to get a letter out to his global supporters, thanking them for their prayers while confirming the brutality of his conditions.
Saeed Abedini, the 33-year-old Idaho resident serving an eight-year prison term in Tehran's infamous Evin prison, passed the letter to family members who were permitted to visit him after several weeks of isolation. The letter was passed to Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, who is at their Boise-area home with their two children and unable to visit her husand for fear of being arrested herself.
“You don’t know how happy I was in the Lord and rejoiced knowing that in my chains the body of Christ has chained together and is brought to action and prayer.”
- Saeed Abedini, in letter from Iranian prison
“I heard that the persecution, my arrest and imprisonment has united churches from different denominations, from different cities and countries, that would never come together because of their differences,” Abedini wrote. “You don’t know how happy I was in the Lord and rejoiced knowing that in my chains the body of Christ has chained together and is brought to action and prayer.”
Abedini signed the letter: "With many thanks for your continued and faithful prayers, Servant of our Lord in chains for Jesus Christ, Saeed." Abedini has been held at the brutal prison for 238 days, enduring long stints in solitary confinement, and, according to his supporters, beatings and torture at the hands of his jailers and fellow inmates. For months, he has been suffering from serious injuries, including internal bleeding from beatings with no proper medical attention, according to his family and attorneys.
More than a decade ago, Abedini began working as a Christian leader and community organizer developing Iran’s underground home church communities for Christian converts who are forbidden from praying in public churches. He was arrested in 2009, but released after pledging to stop formally organizing house churches in Iran. When he returned to Iran last year to help build a state-run, secular orphanage, Iranian police pulled him off a bus and imprisoned him.
After spending months imprisoned without any notice of charges, Abedini was sentenced in January to eight years in prison, as his family and attorneys continue to press the State Department and other public and private groups to help win his release. The American Center for Law and Justice, which represents Abedini and his family in the U.S., last week met with State Department officials after noting the U.S. diplomats had not issued a single press release demanding Abedini's release.
"The fact is with each passing day, Pastor Saeed’s health worsens – he’s now suffering from internal bleeding," said ACLJ chief counsel Jay Sekulow. "Time is of the essence."
Sekulow noted that Iran in January freed an Iranian Christian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, under pressure from the international community – including the State Department and the White House.
"This year, the international community – including the European Union and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran – have spoken out clearly and directly for Pastor Saeed, but his own adopted nation has done less for him than the EU, less than Australia," Sekulow said. "Shouldn’t the United States do at least as much for its own citizen as it did for that brave Iranian pastor?"
Subject: Pastor's Imprisonment in Iran Opens Door to Gospel Witness Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:03 am
Pastor's Imprisonment in Iran Opens Door to Gospel Witness
6:00AM EDT 8/5/2013
Saeed Abedini
In Ward 350, Saeed Abedini is kept with 30 to 40 other prisoners—twice the legal limit. When he sleeps at night, the arms and legs of his fellow inmates are draped around him.
On several occasions, Saeed has been beaten by guards, resulting in internal bleeding. The psychological harassment is unending. Twice—once last fall and again in May—Saeed was moved into solitary confinement. The first confinement lasted four weeks, the second for 10 days.
His offense, according to the Iranian government and court system that arrested him and sentenced him to eight years, was “endangering national security.”
But the real reason Saeed approaches his first anniversary of imprisonment is because of his faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior who found him in his Tehran bedroom more than a decade ago.
Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, sits politely in her home in Boise, Idaho. Her two children, Rebekka, 6, and Jacob, 5, have just awakened.
Their grandmother, born in Iran, takes them into her care as Naghmeh settles into her living room, which is adorned with a Persian rug.
Quietly and relentlessly, Naghmeh has labored on behalf of her husband over the course of the past year to bring his plight to the attention of the world.
A website, SaveSaeed.org, was started last December in conjunction with the American Center for Law and Justice. The site has garnered more than 600,000 signatures from people around the world demanding his release from illegal incarceration.
Naghmeh’s pleas for Saeed’s freedom have also been carried directly into Iran through BBC Farsi and Voice of America Persia.
This past spring, she spoke before the United Nations.
On Sept. 26—the one-year anniversary of Saeed's imprisonment—Naghmeh is hoping believers will congregate at all 50 U.S. state Capitol buildings to conduct a prayer vigil for her husband.
“My husband is in jail simply because he loves Jesus Christ,” she says. “He was arrested as he worked on an orphanage we are building on property we own and for which we had received all the proper permits. He was also gathering peacefully with other fellow Christians in their private homes, expressing his faith.”
When the call came in the middle of the night to inform her Saeed had been arrested, Naghmeh was surprised but ready. Her husband had been arrested and detained several years earlier, when the couple had visited with churches they had planted in Iran.
The detention lasted only two months before he was released and encouraged to begin humanitarian work, which led them to start an orphanage in Tehran.
“God is a gentleman,” Naghmeh says. “He knew that I was not ready two years ago to deal with the situation I am now facing with Saeed. He was gracious to me and was preparing my heart even then. He doesn’t cut too deep when you are not ready.”
To show your support, click on SaveSaeed.org.
Read Franklin Graham's statement to pray for Saeed.
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Abedini Fainting From Pain in 'Disturbing Turn of Events' Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:34 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini Fainting From Pain in 'Disturbing Turn of Events'
(Photo: ACLJ.org) U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini in this undated photo.
By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter August 13, 2013|10:08 am
American Pastor Saeed Abedini's health has taken a turn for the worse and he is fainting from severe amounts of pain, according to his family in Iran who were able to visit him in Evin Prison, where he is serving an eight year sentence.
"Unfortunately, we have learned that Pastor Saeed's internal injuries are causing him increased pain," the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents Abedini's wife and two children in the U.S.,revealed in a post on Monday.
"Pastor Saeed has been suffering from internal bleeding – the results of intense beatings he has sustained in prison for his faith."
Earlier this summer, Abedini's health was thought to be improving, with his family noting that he was in "good spirits" following his release from solitary confinement, and that some of his medical symptoms had waned.
Arrested in 2012 and later sentenced to eight years in prison supposedly for endangering national security, the Christian pastor has been beaten in jail and has been pressured to renounce his faith in Christ, though he has refused to do so. An international campaign backed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide has called for his release, though so far Iranian authorities have refused to grant such a request.
Officials have also denied Abedini important medical care for the severe pain he has been feeling in his abdomen, causing the ACLJ to accuse the Islamic republic of "inhuman treatment of prisoners of conscience." Follow us
The pastor was finally allowed treatment at a local hospital where he was prescribed medication, but it has not been enough, and his pain has increased, the Christian law group said, revealing that on one occasion he had even fainted from "immense anguish."
"This is a disturbing turn of events. It serves as a renewed reminder of the dangerous conditions Pastor Saeed faces in one of the world's worst prisons," the ACLJ continued, and urged official to provide Abedini the important medical care that he need.
The law group pointed out that the pastor is being kept in prison because of his Christian faith, and noted that his is one of many persecution stories currently taking place in the Islamic Republic.
In a recent interview, Naghmeh Abedini, the pastor's wife, spoke out about the torture and beatings her husband has been subjected to while in prison, and announced an upcoming prayer vigil in September to mark the anniversary of his imprisonment.
"He has been dealing with a lot of pain and internal bleeding since he was taken to solitary confinement which has been horrific in itself…two times, attempts to break him and have him recant his faith. He's gone through a lot the last year," Naghmeh Abedini said.
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Subject: Pastor Saeed: 'Don't Make My Children Orphans' CBNNews.com Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:13 am
Pastor Saeed: 'Don't Make My Children Orphans' CBNNews.com
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith, is pleading directly with Iran's president to not let his children become orphans.
Saeed appealed to the new leader for his freedom in a letter he wrote from his prison cell. President Hassan Rouhani claims to be more moderate than his predecessor.
"Considering the fact that I came to Iran to serve the orphans, please do not let them make my children orphans and my wife without a guardian," he wrote, according to the American Center for Law and Justice. The ACLJ has launched a letter writing campaign to Iran's president on Pastor Saeed's behalf.
You can join the initiative by sending a pre-written letter, or you can write your own words to the Iranian president at the Be Heard Project: Saeed Abedini.
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Subject: Wife: Saeed Has Led 30 to Christ in Iran Prison Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:58 pm
Wife: Saeed Has Led 30 to Christ in Iran Prison CBNNews.com
Saturday, September 21, 2013
The wife of the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith says her husband remains bold for Jesus Christ in prison.
Saeed Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, recently spoke to students at Liberty University about her family's plight.
She said in spite of being tortured and asked to deny his faith in Christ and return to Islam, Pastor Saeed is a light for Jesus in Evin Prison, one of the worst in the world.
"They've told him many times that they would free him and allow him to return to our family, the kids and I, if he would deny his Christian faith, and he's stood strong in that prison. He's led many, many - over 30 people - to Christ in that prison," she told the audience. Watch Naghmeh Abedini's full speech below:
A special prayer vigil for Pastor Saeed is being held worldwide Thursday, Sept. 26 -- the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment in Iran.
It's also the day Iran's new president will be making his first trip to America to address the United Nations.
"Now is the time to speak out, to urge Iran to release Pastor Saeed," Jordon Sekulow, executive director for the American Center for Law and Justice, said in an email.
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Subject: PITN: Saeed Abedini Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:05 pm
PITN: Saeed Abedini Gary reviews the saga of imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini.
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Subject: For Saeed Abedini’s wife & family, year-long imprisonment in Iran takes its toll Sat Oct 19, 2013 6:20 pm
For Saeed Abedini’s wife & family, year-long imprisonment in Iran takes its toll Fri, Oct 18, 20130 Comments
BOISE, Idaho (BP) — “Be patient and endure.” From an Iranian jail cell, Saeed Abedini penned those words in a letter to his daughter Rebekka for her seventh birthday this year. But as the American pastor marked a year in Iran’s brutal Evin Prison with no hint of a coming release, “enduring” is taking a toll on wife and two children in Boise, Idaho.
[QUOTE@left@425=Liberty University Convocation, Sept. 18]Rebekka and her brother Jacob, 5, know they’re growing up without their father present to mark milestones or sing to them at bedtime. Abedini’s wife Naghmeh — who hates flying — keeps an intense travel schedule speaking and lobbying for her husband’s release, according to WORLD Magazine.
To a degree, she’s seeing some payoff. On the heels of President Obama expressing concern for Abedini during in a Sept. 27 phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the European Parliament called on Iran’s government Oct. 10 to release the pastor and seven other prisoners. Human rights lawyer Attieh Fard also addressed the issue of Iran’s mistreatment of Christians at a Sept. 24 meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging Rouhani to release 42 Iranian Christians in prison and 45 awaiting trial, according to World Watch Monitor, a religious liberty advocacy organization.
“It is obvious that the Islamic government of Iran has taken actions to prevent access of both Christians and the public to Christian societies, to churches, to Christian literature and religion, despite the Christians’ constitutional, national and international rights,” Fard said. “Now that Iran has said it is committed to its international obligations, it should in fact start to take measures to protect these constitutional rights.”
Iran’s constitution permits religious minorities to assemble, but at least 300 Christians have been arrested in recent years in Iran, according to World Watch Monitor. One of those was Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who faced a death sentence for his faith. His lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, also got handed a nine-year sentence he’s currently serving alongside pastor Benham Irani, who has struggled with major health issues in prison.
After a worldwide campaign for Nadarkhani’s release, he was acquitted Sept. 8, 2012. He walked out of prison 18 days before Abedini was arrested in Iran while working on plans to start an orphanage with permission from the government. Now Abedini’s wife is praying for a miracle similar to Nadarkhani’s.
“We just celebrated — or actually not celebrated, but did a prayer vigil for him on the one-year anniversary,” she said during an Oct. 6 interview with National Public Radio. Though she quickly corrected her word choice, in some ways it was a somber celebration for the Abedinis — their husband and father is still alive.
Evin Prison “is like a death sentence,” she said in an interview with The Pathway, newsjournal of the Missouri Baptist Convention. “It is surprising that he has survived this year.”
Abedini has been beaten and bled internally without medical care, and he was told by an interrogator that he would hang for his faith. To reinforce the message, police killed two other prisoners in front of him, according to WORLD Magazine.
Naghmeh Abedini said her husband also has been forbidden to talk to her and their children for the duration of his eight-year sentence.
As she works to get the kids to school and to bed through the days, weeks and months, she does so with only the occasional letter from her husband. But her faith stays strong.
In September, she saw a direct answer to prayer when she encountered Rouhani in her hotel lobby in New York and was able to hand deliver a letter from her husband to one of the Iranian president’s delegates.
“I know that God is working and Saeed’s imprisonment is not in vain,” she told The Pathway. God has brought her opportunities to share the Gospel in unusual ways through her ordeal, she said.
“In June, I spoke to the United Nations in Geneva,” she told The Pathway. “I was able to share the Gospel to representatives of more than 100 countries. Each heard what I said in their language through their earpiece. I shared that Jesus is the only answer to real peace.”
In May, she shared the Gospel in Farsi live on the air in Iran during an interview. “I was able to speak about Jesus to 50 million Muslims,” she said. “Our prayer is that God will use this ordeal to bring the Gospel to Muslims around the world through the working of the Holy Spirit.
“Saeed also reported that more than 30 people have come to Christ in prison,” she said, “so God is using this for the Kingdom and it is not in vain.”
It’s not what the family would have expected, but all the opportunities are fleshing out the call Abedini heard when he surrendered to Jesus Christ at the age of 20 while living in Iran, his wife said.
Saeed Abedini decided to turn from Islam after seeing a vision of Jesus, who “told Saeed that He’s coming back soon and to go preach the Gospel,” his wife told NPR. It doesn’t come without a price — for her husband and for other Christians around the world, she said.
“More than 100,000 Christians are persecuted each year,” she said. “Remember to pray for those imprisoned or tortured, but also remember to pray for their families.
Be there for each other and be involved in what is going on in the world.”
Her hope is that growing international pressure will lead to the release of her husband. More than 626,000 people have signed a petition and nearly 170,000 have written a letter to Iran’s president on Abedini’s behalf.
As she continues to travel speaking on her husband’s behalf, she will make a stop at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting Oct. 29. Don Hinkle, editor of The Pathway, will interview her during the morning session. In mid-September, she addressed Liberty University’s fall convocation.
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Tue Nov 05, 2013 2:57 pm
Thank you all so much for keeping us up to date on Pastor Abedini's life. I heard on the news today that he has been moved to a much worse prison. The Prison where people go to disappear.
Thank everyone for your prayers, may our sweet Lord and Father be glorified through his suffering as we pray for his strength to continue. I don't know what Father's will is in this thing, I trust Him as I also pray for his release and for his family.
We also know that this is a Peter and Paul moment for Pastor Saeed and no matter what happens we have Romans 8:18 to comfort us.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Praise the LORD!
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Subject: U.S. Pastor Denied Medication By Iranian Prison Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:58 am
U.S. Pastor Denied Medication By Iranian Prison
Imprisoned U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini is being denied medication and visitors in Iran’s notorious Rajai Shahr prison, according to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). ACLJ reports that Abedini’s father was turned away by prison officials when he tried to give his son some of his personal belongings, blankets, and medication. Abedini was recently moved with no
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Subject: URGENT PLEA: JAILED PASTOR NEEDS PRAYERS, PRESSURE Sat Nov 23, 2013 4:06 pm
URGENT PLEA: JAILED PASTOR NEEDS PRAYERS, PRESSURE
'This administration has the worst record on religious freedom in 33 years' Published: 22 hours ago
A U.S. congressman says Americans need to both pray and act for the release and safety of an American pastor being held in Iran.
The Iran-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reports that American Pastor Saeed Abedini has been moved to the infamous Ward 3, Hall 9, in the notorious Rajai Shahr prison.
Ward 3, Hall 9, is where the Iranian human rights group says the homicidal and criminally insane inmates are housed in that section of the prison.
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., an advocate for persecuted Christians, says Americans need to be actively involved in seeking Pastor Abedini’s release.
“Are people praying for Pastor Abedini? Are they sending letters to the president asking for his release?” Wolf asks. “Prayer, write, contact President Obama and contact Secretary [of State John] Kerry.
“This is a time that the American people have an obligation to speak out and urge the Obama Administration to be more forceful in their advocacy,” Wolf asserts. Wolf also says his congressional committee has advocated on behalf of Pastor Abedini.
“We’ve had hearings on Pastor Abedini. The administration has been very weak on Pastor Abedini,” Wolf states. “Everyone who is concerned for human rights ought to be contacting President Obama and Secretary Kerry asking them to publicly begin advocating for Pastor Abedini.”
Wolf says that the pastor’s present location makes intervention more urgent. “Pastor Abedini has been moved to a more dangerous prison, and this administration has the worst record on human rights and religious freedom since I’ve been serving in Congress for 33 years,” Wolf says.
“The Administration is in Geneva now talking about some kind of nuclear arms agreement,” Wolf says. “This ought to be a priority to have Pastor Abedini released.”
American Center for Law and Justice spokesman Gene Kapp confirms that Pastor Abedini is in Ward 3.
In a press statement the ACLJ confirmed that Pastor Abedini’s Iranian relatives were allowed to visit.
“This is a positive sign that international pressure continues to work to keep Pastor Saeed alive,” the statement said.
The visits are a recent development.
“Pastor Saeed’s Iranian family has, for the past two weeks since his transfer, been prevented from visiting him – something they had previously been permitted to do once a week during his imprisonment in Evin Prison,” the statement said.
“It is also the first physical confirmation of Pastor Saeed’s condition and life since his transfer to the brutal prison,” the statement said.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/urgent-plea-jailed-pastor-needs-prayers-pressure/#q5FgzbQa6QHIgmOt.99
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Subject: Iran Deal "Where Is American Pastor Saeed Abedini? Mon Nov 25, 2013 8:19 am
Iran Deal "Where Is American Pastor Saeed Abedini?
Stuck in an Iranian jail American Pastor Saeed Abedini was not set free by John F. Kerry as the Iran Nuclear Deal was still signed....
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Subject: JAILED U.S. PASTOR'S WIFE PRAISES TRUMP Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:19 pm
JAILED U.S. PASTOR'S WIFE PRAISES TRUMP
'I hope that more people like him will speak out' Published: 16 hours ago
When U.S. officials negotiated an interim nuclear deal with Iran, they left out one very important detail – release of the American pastor imprisoned and tortured in the Islamic republic for more than a year.
Nagmah Abedini, the wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini, says she is very disappointed by the U.S.-Iranian nuclear deal that left her husband in prison. But she told WND in an interview she is grateful for intervention from another source.
Flamboyant billionaire Donald Trump has taken up the cause for the American pastor jailed in Iran for his Christian work there.
Trump tweeted today: “How does Obama rationalize giving Iran $8B in sanction relief when a Christian pastor is being tortured in an Iranian prison?”
His message followed another one posted yesterday only hours after the Obama administration announced a six-month deal with Iran over its nuclear program and sanctions against the rogue regime.
Then, Trump asked: “Why didn’t Obama, as part of the negotiation, free the Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini?”
Nagmeh Abedini told WND she is delighted by Trump’s intervention.
“I am very happy to hear that he is doing this, because this is the first example of anyone outside of the legal and political areas speaking out,” she said. “I hope that more people like him will speak out.”
She said she would like to arrange a meeting to thank Trump.
“I would very much like to meet him and thank him for what he has done in bringing awareness to this issue,” she told WND. “Every voice counts and especially voices like Mr. Trump’s. I’m just thankful he’s using his voice to speak out against this injustice.
“I would thank Mr. Trump for Saeed and for my kids,” she said.
The arrangement with Iran calls for the U.S. to free up $8 billion of frozen Iranian assets. However, analysts are still debating the merits of the deal in terms of U. S. policy and national security interests.
Tiffany Barrans, an overseas specialist for the American Center for Law and Justice, said the deal accomplished little for the U.S.
She said Americans need to ensure their representatives are engaged in the issue of Abedini’s imprisonment.
“Every member of Congress needs to stand up and call for pastor Saeed’s release in every speech they given on the floor of the House and the Senate,” Barrans said. “Every American needs to call their representatives and demand they call on the administration to call on Iran to release pastor Abedini.”
Nagmeh Abedini believes U.S. omission of her husband’s release from the agreement is sending the wrong signal.
“It shows the Iranian government that human rights issues aren’t important to the United States,” she said.
Nagmeh said she was “completely dismayed that [her husband] wasn’t even mentioned.”
“I would have thought they would have at least mentioned him at some point,” she said. “But they completely neglected him. This means that he has been abandoned by our government.”
Negmah Abedini said her husband’s life is in danger every day that he remains in prison.
“It means he likely won’t be home for Christmas, and we missed the best chance to bring him home.”
WND reported last week that Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., an advocate for persecuted Christians, says Americans need to be actively involved in seeking Abedini’s release.
“Are people praying for pastor Abedini? Are they sending letters to the president asking for his release?” Wolf asked. “Pray, write, contact President Obama and contact Secretary [of State John] Kerry.
“This is a time that the American people have an obligation to speak out and urge the Obama administration to be more forceful in their advocacy,” he said.
The American pastor has been imprisoned in Iran since September 2012, enduring beatings and torture for his faith.
Earlier, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., led an effort by politicians and human rights groups to push the U.S. government to make the fight against Christian persecution a policy priority, including increased pressure on Iran to free Abedini.
In what was a bipartisan move, 23 U. S. senators sent Obama a letter asking him to step up pressure on Iran to release Abedini.
In a statement, the American Center for Law and Justice said the letter is further evidence of the Senate’s commitment to Abedini’s freedom.
“Led by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the letter calls pastor Saeed’s transfer a potential ‘death sentence’ and urges President Obama to immediately speak out for his freedom. Now nearly a quarter of the U.S. Senate is urging action from the U.S. government on pastor Saeed’s behalf,” ACLJ said.
In a recent speech, Paul said he believes there’s an all-out war against Christianity, and he wants the U.S. government to focus on fighting against persecution.
Paul told WND in an interview that the people can play a major role in bringing the issue to the government’s attention. He said his first goal is to raise awareness of the issue.
“It’s important to acknowledge that there is a problem. There have been many deaths in a couple of dozen of countries of Christians who were killed by followers of radical Islam,” Paul said.
“These Muslims are seeing the cause for their actions to be based on their interpretation of their religion.”
WND also recently reported Abedini had been moved to the Rajai Shahr prison, a more dangerous facility than the Evin Prison where he was previously held.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/jailed-u-s-pastors-wife-praises-trump/#TqJlSOihxGVcsUbv.99
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Subject: Health deteriorates for American pastor in Iran prison: law center Sun Dec 08, 2013 7:35 am
Health deteriorates for American pastor in Iran prison: law center BY LAURA ZUCKERMAN
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) (C) delivers his remarks with members of the Christian Defense Coalition in front of the White House in Washington September 26, 2013. The event marked the one year anniversary of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American pastor who is serving eight years in an Iranian prison. CREDIT: REUTERS/GARY CAMERON
(Reuters) - An Iranian-American pastor imprisoned in Iran for more than a year because of his Christian faith is in declining health for lack of proper nutrition and necessary medication, a group seeking his release said on Tuesday.
An Iranian court in January sentenced Saeed Abedini, 33, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to eight years in prison for undermining national security by working to establish home-based Christian churches in Iran from 2000 to 2005.
The Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice, which has petitioned Congress and President Barack Obama to seek Abedini's release, said on Tuesday that the pastor's father was allowed to visit him on Monday for the second time since he was moved a month ago to a prison that houses violent offenders.
"It's a worsening situation," said Gene Kapp, spokesman for the center. "His father reported that he has visibly lost weight, he is covered from head to toe with lice because of lack of basic hygiene and he has been refused medicine for internal injuries he suffered at the beginning of his incarceration."
The pastor's wife, Naghmeh Abedini, has said she feared for her husband's life in remarks made a day after Iran reached an interim deal with major world powers to accept restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from economic sanctions that have hobbled its economy and slashed its oil exports.
Naghmeh Abedini, 36, faulted the Obama administration for failing to secure her husband's release as a condition of the deal. The U.S. State Department has criticized Saeed Abedini's conviction and sentence and has called for him to be freed.
White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told CNN last week that Obama has raised the issue of detained Americans with Iranian leaders.
The Abedinis moved to Boise, Idaho, in 2005 after establishing home churches in Iran. Saeed Abedini traveled to Iran on those missions until 2009, when he was told by Iranian officials to restrict his work to non-religious, humanitarian projects.
The pastor was establishing a non-sectarian orphanage in Iran when he was detained last year. The American Center for Law and Justice's online petition demanding his return had gathered more than 71,000 signatures on Tuesday.
The U.S. State Department has criticized his conviction and sentencing, saying it was deeply concerned about the fairness and transparency of his trial, and has called for Abedini's release.
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Subject: Saeed’s Wife To Testify Before House Panel Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:23 am
Saeed’s Wife To Testify Before House Panel
The wife of U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini, Naghmeh, and American Center for Law and Justice Executive Director Jordan Sekulow will testify before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations this week. The hearing on the plight of Pastor Saeed, who’s been imprisoned in Iran for his faith, is set
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Subject: Abedini now among Iran’s political prisoners Fri Jan 24, 2014 2:58 pm
Abedini now among Iran’s political prisoners Thu, Jan 23,
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) — Saeed Abedini, held in a brutal Iranian prison because of his faith, has been transferred from the murderer ward to the political prisoner ward, something a key supporter called “an improvement, but not a victory.”
Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said Jan. 22 the Iranian-American pastor remains in the deadliest prison in Iran, Rajai Shahr Prison, facing deteriorating medical conditions.
Still, Sekulow called the move the first positive step since Abedini’s transfer from Evin Prison last November.
“For the first time in six weeks, Pastor Saeed’s Iranian family was able to visit with Pastor Saeed today in his new prison ward,” Sekulow wrote in an update to supporters.
“No reason was given for the move and his family reports that this new ward, still within the dangerous walls of Rajai Shahr, represents a slight improvement in his treatment. Pastor Saeed is now receiving better meals,” Sekulow wrote.
Abedini still is throwing up regularly and coping with severe abdominal pain, according to his family, but he was allowed finally to be examined by a prison doctor. The physician, who reportedly was “very concerned about his internal injuries,” recommended surgery.
In conjunction with his transfer to the political ward, the pastor was given pain medication for the injuries he endured from beatings at Evin Prison, but he still has not received the medicine prescribed earlier for his condition. Sekulow said Abedini’s family in Iran has formally petitioned the Iranian government to allow him to receive the necessary surgery.
Naghmeh Abedini, the pastor’s wife, who lives in Idaho with the couple’s two young children, said she received a small bit of comfort in knowing her husband had been transferred out of the murderer ward, “but my heart aches to know the pain he continually suffers and that his injuries necessitate surgery.”
“As a family, it is difficult to be so far away and unable to comfort him in his pain,” Abedini said through the ACLJ. “Though we are encouraged by the transfer to the new ward, such a small step is far from an unconditional release where Saeed is reunited with our family. While this development is welcomed, we desperately await his return home.”
Sekulow warned that while the political prisoner ward should be safer for Abedini than the murderer ward, authorities have placed two violent criminals in the political ward who “consistently threaten any semblance of peace.”
Also, Sekulow learned that the prison closed recreational facilities and the library that had been available to political prisoners.
The ACLJ, which represents Naghmeh Abedini and has persisted in efforts to free her husband for well over a year, continues to work with world leaders and urge the U.S. government to make releasing Abedini a priority.
More than 67,000 people have signed a petition asking Congress to impose tighter sanctions on Iran until Abedini is released. The petition can be found at beheardproject.com/saeed.
Naghmeh Abedini is scheduled as a keynote speaker for the sixth annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy Feb. 25, ahead of the annual session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. She continues to speak in various venues on behalf of the persecuted church and her husband in particular.
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Subject: Saeed Shackled, Refused Medical Treatment Thu Mar 13, 2014 11:29 am
Saeed Shackled, Refused Medical Treatment CBNNews.com
Thursday, March 13, 2014
American Pastor Saeed Abedini's case in Iran has taken a turn for the worse as a result of continual beatings in the country's Rajai Shahr prison.
Saeed has been imprisoned in Iran for his faith since September 2012.
More than a week ago he was moved from his jail cell at Rajai Shahr prison to a private hospital for treatment. That treatment stopped on Tuesday.
Pastor Saeed was shackled and refused medical care and hospital doctors said he must leave and return to prison.
The American Center for Law and Justice is currently meeting with world leaders at the United Nations office in Geneva on behalf of Saeed.
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Subject: Pastor Abedini Beaten In Iran Prison Denied Medical Care Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:46 am
Pastor Abedini Beaten In Iran Prison Denied Medical Care
Published on Mar 14, 2014
The evil empire of Iran holds an American Pastor in jail and beats him http://www.paulbegleyprophecy.com alsohttp://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/...
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Subject: Saeed Abedini, American pastor held in Iran, in hospital but denied surgery Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:36 am
Saeed Abedini, American pastor held in Iran, in hospital but denied surgery
Published April 08, 2014 FoxNews.com
American citizen Saeed Abedini has been moved to an Iranian hospital after suffering severe beatings in prison. (ACLJ)
The American pastor serving an eight-year prison term in Iran for alleged crimes related to his Christian faith has been in a Tehran hospital for more than a month, according to family members and his attorneys.
Since mid-March, Pastor Saeed Abedini has been in an Iranian hospital getting treatment for internal injuries suffered at Rajai Shahr Prison, according to his American legal team. While they are pleased he is in a hospital, they said he is not getting needed surgery for his injuries, which they claim came at the hands of his guards and fellow inmates. Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said there appears to be a struggle within the Iranian government over what to do with Abedini, who is 33 and the married father of two children back home in Boise, Idaho.
“Inside Iran there is a discussion because they know the severity of having an American,” Sekulow said. “But they face a hard-line opposition within their ranks to keep him in prison.”
Sekulow adds that Abedini is currently receiving better care and treatment while in the hospital, including decent food, medicine and monitoring. But family members who have visited him say he is still in severe pain and could be returned to the brutal conditions of prison without notice.
“As good as this is, he could be taken back at a moment’s notice,” he said. “He went into prison as a healthy guy. The abuse from the guards and other inmates, all of it has taken its physical toll.”
The hospital where Abedini is staying is private, and his family must foot the bill for his treatment. He originally was chained to his bed and treated roughly, which aggravated his injuries, Sekulow said.
Abedini has served just one year of an eight-year sentence meted out to him for allegedly evangelizing in his homeland. His supporters say he has been beaten and tortured in the prison, and that he was only in Iran to try to start a secular orphanage.
Abedini had been making one of his frequent visits to see his home country to see his parents and other family. He spent many years as a Christian leader and community organizer developing Iran's underground home churches for worshippers who converted to Christianity.
During a trip in September 2012, he was pulled off a bus by authorities and arrested for allegedly evangelizing.
Scores of international humanitarian groups and government officials -- including President Obama -- have called on Iran to release Abedini, but the Iranian government has so far rebuffed them. Abedini's supporters are pressing the U.S. government to make his plight, as well as two other Americans being held in Iran, part of the ongoing nuclear disarmament negotiations.
FoxNews.com's Perry Chiaramonte contributed reporting to this story.
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Subject: Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini Sends Easter Message to Family, World Tue Apr 22, 2014 1:07 pm
Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini Sends Easter Message to Family, World
Carrie Dedrick | Editor, ChristianHeadlines.com | Monday, April 21, 2014 Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran in 2013, composed a letter to the world containing a message of faith in the Easter season.
Abedini was originally convicted of developing underground churches for Christians who were not permitted to worship in public churches more than 10 years ago Fox News reported. He was let go after agreeing to stop organizing the church communities. But in 2009, Abedini was arrested on a trip to Iran to assist in the construction of a non-religious orphanage.
Since his imprisonment, Abedini has been brutally abused and denied medical attention until recently. He has spent the past five weeks in a hospital.
Abedini wrote on Maundy Thursday that he was “praying from my hospital room for my fellow Christians in the world.”
“Sometimes we want to experience the Glory and resurrection with Jesus without experiencing death with Him. We do not realize that unless we pass through the path of death with Christ, we are not able to experience resurrection with Christ,” Abedini wrote.
“We want to have a good and successful marriage, career, education and family life (which is also God’s desire and plan for our life). But we forget that in order to experience the Resurrection and Glory of Christ we first have to experience death with Christ and to die to ourselves and selfish desires.”
Abedini’s message was given to family members that were permitted rare access to his hospital room.
The letter can be read in its entirety at aclj.org.
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Subject: Saeed Abedini, American pastor imprisoned in Iran, beaten in hospital, family charges Wed May 21, 2014 11:33 am
IRAN
Saeed Abedini, American pastor imprisoned in Iran, beaten in hospital, family charges
Saeed Abedini, American pastor imprisoned in Iran, beaten in hospital, family charges
Pastor Saeed Abedini spent the past two months in a hospital for prior injuries he allegedly received while tortured in prison.ACLJ
The American citizen being held in Iran for alleged crimes related to his faith and work as a Christian pastor was yanked from a hospital bed, beaten and taken back to one of the Islamic Republic's infamous prisons, his family charges.
Pastor Saeed Abedini had spent the past two months in a hospital for injuries allegedly suffered at the hands of guards and inmates in Iran’s Evin and Rajai Shahr prisons when he was once again beaten and hauled back to prison, according to family members who say they witnessed the beating.
"This news is devastating to our family,” his wife, Naghmeh Abedini, told FoxNews.com. “This development also came as a complete shock to all of us.
Saeed's family, who was present at the hospital when this occurred, witnessed the severe beatings that Saeed received - at one point seeing him collapse before being taken away. We're very concerned about his health."
In March, when Abedini was transferred to a private hospital in Iran, where he was told he would receive further tests for his worsening medical condition as well as surgery for the chronic stomach pain suffered as a result of repeated beatings. But soon after being admitted, he was shackled and beaten by guards, according to family members. He was also denied medical treatment and was not allowed to see family members initially, they said.
It was not immediately clear why Abedini was suddenly transferred back to Rajai Shahr.
"It is a very disturbing development that underscores what we have known from the very beginning - there is much upheaval and uncertainty in Iran,” Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, which also represents Abedini’s family, told FoxNews.com. “We've been hopeful since Pastor Saeed has spent the last two months in the hospital, instead of a prison cell. But this unexpected move raises great concern.”
Abedini had often made trips back to his native country of Iran to see his parents and extended family. Before leaving for America, he spent many years in the Islamic country as a Christian leader and community organizer developing underground home church communities for converts.
It was in September 2012, while in his homeland to held build a secular orphanage, that he was pulled off a bus by authorities, imprisoned and sent before a judge in what supporters say was a sham trial.
“Despite this troubling news, we continue to move forward with our efforts in this country and abroad to work to secure his freedom, Sekulow said.
“Pastor Saeed is an American citizen who is being punished because he's a Christian. That was unacceptable when he was taken into custody nearly two years ago, and it is unacceptable today."
Subject: Muslims Force Saeed Abedini To Watch Six Of His Fellow Prisoners Get Executed Right Before His Eyes, As If To Say, “You’re Next” Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:31 am
Muslims Force Saeed Abedini To Watch Six Of His Fellow Prisoners Get Executed Right Before His Eyes, As If To Say, “You’re Next”
by Ted on March 9, 2015 in Featured, General
By Theodore Shoebat Muslim officers, part of the Islamic Iranian government, forced Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, who was arrested for his Faith, to watch six of his fellow prisoners being hung to death, right before his eyes. It was as if they were saying, “You’re next.” Although let us hope that, God willing, this never […]
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Subject: Pastor Saeed Abedini ‘Viciously Beaten’ in Iranian Prison, Told His Only Way Out Is to Deny Jesus Christ Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:38 am
Pastor Saeed Abedini ‘Viciously Beaten’ in Iranian Prison, Told His Only Way Out Is to Deny Jesus Christ
JUNE 12, 2015 / LAMARZULLI
American pastor Saeed Abedini has reportedly been “viciously beaten” by fellow prisoners in an unprovoked attack in the Iranian prison where he’s being held. The pastor was punched in the face, leaving his eyes beaten black and blue, but prison guards intervened and prevented further injury.
The American Center for Law and Justice, the law group which represents his wife, Naghmeh Abedini, and the couple’s two children in the U.S., said that the prisoners also demolished a small table that the pastor had used to study and read during the beating that he endured last week.
Abedini was allowed to see a prison doctor, who determined that he does not have any broken bones. On Wednesday, he was able to see a family member who came to visit him and see his injuries first hand.
“It is heartbreaking to me and my family that Saeed was again beaten in prison. Saeed’s life is continuously threatened not only because he is an American, but also because he is a convert from Islam to Christianity. It’s time to get Saeed home before it is too late,” Naghmeh Abedini said in response to the news.
(Thanks for Bill Koenig’s White House News)
Time to take a break from the news, wars, and craziness of this world and pray for this Pastor. He has been held in an Iranian jail for several years. Let’s lift him up and pray he would be released soon. A beating like the one he received can kill a man, and that is what these barbaric inmates want to ultimately do, kill him.
We should write our elected officials and ask them to petition for Pastor Saeed’s release. L.A.
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Subject: BEAKING: Iran Sets Saeed Abedini 4 Americans Free Sat Jan 16, 2016 9:27 am
BEAKING: Iran Sets Saeed Abedini 4 Americans Free
Published on Jan 16, 2016
Iran has released 4 USA Citizens free including Pastor Saeed Abedini http://www.paulbegleyprophecy.com
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Posts : 14434 Reputation : 955 Join date : 2011-08-13 Age : 71 Location : San Diego
Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:28 am
Jason Rezaian along with 4 others to be freed in prisoner exchange. Praise God, finally free!
Jason Rezaian and Saeed Abedini among prisoners freed by Iran: report
48 minutes ago
Tehran (AFP) - Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post's Tehran correspondent, and Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Idaho, are among four dual Iranian nationals freed by Iran, the Fars News Agency reported Saturday. Rezaian and Abedini are both Iranian-American citizens. Iran's judiciary did not name the four dual-nationals who were released as part of a prisoner swap. But Fars, citing its judicial reporter, said Rezaian and Abedini were two of the four set free. Seven Iranian prisoners held in the United States will be freed in exchange for the release of the four Iranian-American nationals, an informed source told state television.
!! FOXTROT JULIETBRAVO !!
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Posts : 14434 Reputation : 955 Join date : 2011-08-13 Age : 71 Location : San Diego
Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:31 pm
Freed for a year now so I'm unpinning this one.
!! FOXTROT JULIETBRAVO !!
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Subject: Re: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!!
Subject: Pastor Saeed Update: FREE AT LAST!!!! 
Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:08 am
sign the petition at ACLJ.org and help them put pressure on the Obama admin to do something about this and release our good brother. 
). Signed the petition only days ago. Took some prayer and courage on my part because they ask for an address. But very glad I signed. I Just joined facebook and feel so bold that I'm gonna share the link with my friends too. Actions Father actions. Words are one thing but it's our actions that count/matter. 
Saeed Abedini, American pastor imprisoned in Iran, beaten in hospital, family charges
