{"id":2391,"date":"2013-02-23T00:07:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-23T00:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/jailed-iranian-pastor-reports-threatening-abuse\/"},"modified":"2013-02-23T00:07:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-23T00:07:00","slug":"jailed-iranian-pastor-reports-threatening-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2013\/02\/jailed-iranian-pastor-reports-threatening-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Jailed Iranian pastor reports ‘threatening’ abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2013 \/ 05:07 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison, has spoken out about his plight, which includes physical violence, psychological abuse and death threats.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThis new letter from Pastor Saeed could not be more clear or direct \u2013 he continues to face life-threatening abuse simply because of his religious beliefs,\u201d said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, which represents the pastor\u2019s wife and children in the U.S.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe letter also underscores the need to move quickly. A U.S. citizen is in failing health from beatings and abuse \u2013 a menacing scenario that should command the full attention and engagement of the U.S. government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn a Feb. 18 letter, the pastor said the conditions in his prison are \u201cdifficult.\u201d He explained that he is the target of physical violence and acts intended to humiliate him.<\/p>\n

\tIn addition, he said that his eyes have become blurry and his steps have become \u201cvery weak and shaky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe pastor said he is \u201ccarefully watched\u201d because of his Christian faith, even being attacked by his cellmate to stop him from singing worship songs.<\/p>\n

\tIn response, he said, \u201cI hugged him and showed him love. He was shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tA native of Iran, Pastor Abedini has been a United States citizen since his 2010 marriage to his American wife.<\/p>\n

\tThe pastor is serving an eight year prison sentence for his work with house churches in the country numerous years ago. While these churches are legal, Iran alleges his work threatened national security by attempting to persuade Iranian youth away from Islam.<\/p>\n

\tThe pastor, who converted to Christianity from Islam 13 years ago, had worked with house churches until attracting the ire of Iran. In 2009, he came to an agreement with the regime to stop his work with the house churches and turned instead to non-religious orphanages.<\/p>\n

\tHe was in the country to work with these orphanages when he was arrested last September. He is now imprisoned in Tehran\u2019s Evin Prison, which has a reputation for severity.<\/p>\n

\tThe pastor said those in the jail are trying to put him under \u201csometimes unbearable\u201d pressures \u201cso that they can show me that my faith is empty and not real.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe said they want him to deny Christ.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cBut they will never get this from me,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is why the Bible is Truth and they are in the way of destruction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPastor Abedini\u2019s wife, Naghmeh, who lives in Idaho with their two children, said it is \u201cheart wrenching\u201d to hear of her husband\u2019s continued abuse.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cNow our worst fears have been confirmed. He continues to face life-threatening abuse at the hands of the Iranian officials simply because of his faith in Jesus,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\tNaghmeh voiced concern for her husband\u2019s health and well-being.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cHis situation is dire and with the continued abuse and death threats, we are not sure how long Saeed will survive these horrendous conditions in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe American Center for Law and Justice and its European affiliate filed a statement last week with the U.N. Human Rights Council calling on Iran to release the pastor. It charged that Iran has violated international law and human rights abuses.<\/p>\n

\tIn addition, more than 80 members of Congress from both parties sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last week asking him to \u201cexhaust every possible option\u201d to secure the pastor\u2019s immediate release.<\/p>\n

\tSekulow voiced hope that Kerry will act to help the pastor and highlighted the importance of continued international attention.<\/p>\n

\tIn spite of the abuse, Pastor Abedini said he sees these difficulties as \u201cgolden opportunities and great doors\u201d to serve God.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThere are empty containers who are thirsty for a taste of the Living Water and we can quench their thirst by giving them Jesus Christ,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cStay strong for His glory,\u201d the pastor urged Christians.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2013 \/ 05:07 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison, has spoken out about his plight, which includes physical violence, psychological abuse and death th…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-middle-east-africa"],"yoast_head":"\nJailed Iranian pastor reports 'threatening' abuse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2013 \/ 05:07 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison, has spoken out about his plight, which includes physical violence, psychological abuse and death th...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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