While the U.S. State Department is negotiating with Iran over its
nuclear pursuit, U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini remains in an Iranian jail for his Christian
faith – now nearly 2 ½ years. According
to his wife (Naghmeh), he is “shaken” as 6 of his fellow prisoners were
executed around him last week.
“Saeed was quite shaken as he had to witness 6 fellow prisoners
being beaten and taken to be executed (hanged) that day,” Naghmeh was quoted as
saying in a report by American Center for
Law and Justice (ACLJ). “It was a hard and dark day having witnessed
that and seeing life being taken. The
prison visit was also very hard as the families of those who were executed were
crying and wailing,” she added.
Naghmeh learned about this after Pastor Saeed’s family members in
Iran were able to have a short visit with him at the prison. “It was also an emotional visitation as it is
getting closer to Jacob’s 7th birthday. Last
time Saeed saw Jacob he was 4-years old,” she said, urging Christians to continue
to pray for her husband “to have the strength to endure in that harsh prison
and that Jesus would continue to meet him there and give him hope.” “Please pray that this will be the year that
Saeed is released,” she said.
Pastor Saeed remains in an incredibly dangerous situation, ACLJ says, explaining that summary
executions, inmate violence and beatings are common-place. Saeed has also sustained prolonged internal
injuries due to beatings in the prison.
“The Obama Administration must do all within its power to bring this
wrongfully imprisoned U.S. citizen home to his family in America,” ACLJ says.
President Obama raised the issue of the pastor’s detention during
his first phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in September
2013, but authorities in Iran have not responded.
Saeed grew up in Iran before converting to Christianity at the age
of 20. He later traveled with his family
back and forth between Iran and the U.S. to meet other members of his family
and for Christian work. During one such
trip in 2009, Saeed was detained by Iranian officials and interrogated for his
conversion. While he was released with a
warning against engaging in underground church activities, he was once again
arrested in 2012 while working on a non-sectarian orphanage project.
Saeed was sentenced for endangering Iran’s “national security,”
but the ACLJ believes the punishment
has more to do with Saeed’s Christian faith.
Where is the true Church?
Does the Lord’s Church leave a brother in the hands of the enemy? Is your church in constant prayer for
persecuted Christians world-wide, or are you a part of a church that is only
concerned for its own survival and good name?
Fellow Christians: Just as God freed the Apostle Paul from prison
(read Acts 16:16-40), let’s believe in the power of the Living Lord to do the
same for Saeed … to His honor and glory!
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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