Priority Must Be Given to the Religiously Persecuted

The persecution of Christians overseas is one of the most pressing and overlooked issues in America today.  There is something terribly wrong when a homosexual football player gets vastly more attention than an American pastor falsely jailed in Iran.

 

American Pastor Saeed Abedini is in the brutal Rajai Shahr Prison.  He remains in the violent criminal ward—Ward 3—sharing a 3 meter by 3 meter cell with other prisoners.  This particular ward of the deadly prison holds some of the worst criminals in Iran—murderers and rapists. International human rights organizations have reported that prisoner on prisoner violence, including murder, is routine at Rajai Shahr Prison. Pastor Saeed's situation remains dire.

 

Elliott Abrams, who sits on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, blasted the Obama Administration during congressional testimony last week for its inattention to the plight of persecuted believers around the world.

 

Referring to Obama's refusal to name an ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom for well over a year, Abrams said, “If there is a long vacancy, it weakens the attention of the executive branch … and it sends a message to countries around the world of inattention and a lack of concern.”

 

Abrams added that the Obama Administration is not taking full advantage of the authority it has to fight religious persecution under the International Religious Freedom Act, which authorizes the administration to impose tough sanctions on the worst offenders.  Failing to use that leverage, Abrams warned, “… sends a message to other governments that we don't care.”

 

As our nation was founded on the principle of religious liberty, Americans should care tremendously about religious persecution … regardless of faith group.  Let’s pray that our government … that stands for religious liberty will proclaim it to the entire world … as molded into our nation’s Liberty Bell – “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Leviticus 25:10)

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel