ACLJ: American Pastor Spends 33rd Birthday in Solitary Confinement in Iran; Wife: "I Will Be a Voice, Where You are Being Silenced"

(Washington, DC) - The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which defends human rights and religious freedom, said today more than 50,000 people have sent letters to American Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen, imprisoned in Iran because of his Christian faith. The letters of prayer, support, and encouragement come as Pastor Saeed spends his 33rd birthday today in solitary confinement in Evin Prison, one of Iran’s most brutal and deadly prisons.

In an emotional statement from Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, she expressed her love and concern for her husband in a note she has written for him.

“With tightness in my throat, pain in my heart, and tears streaming down my face...so very weak, 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,” Naghmeh wrote. “I will be a voice, where you are being silenced. I will be hands and feet where you are being bound and in chains. That the whole world would know, that the whole world would hear that Jesus is Lord. We are so proud of you. Hang in there. Hold on tight to Jesus. You have many brothers and sisters praying for you and standing with you.”

Her complete letter and additional details about Pastor Saeed’s case are posted here.

To date, 52,501 letters have been written to Pastor Saeed at SaveSaeed.org.  These letters show the impact that Pastor Saeed’s case is having in people’s lives.  One letter reads, “Your Message of forgiveness is an amazing Testimony and actually helped us realize there was someone in our life we needed to forgive, thank you.”

“This is a critical time for Pastor Saeed, whose health continues to worsen at the hands of his captors,” said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ.  “Pastor Saeed’s strength and resolve is remarkable. Through all of the abuse and torment he has endured at the hands of his Iranian captors, he remains resilient in his faith.  He concluded, his last letter – his last communication with the outside world: ‘Pastor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see you soon.’  His faith is keeping him alive.”

Pastor Saeed, 33, has been imprisoned since last fall and is serving an 8-year prison sentence in Evin Prison, one of Iran’s most deadly prisons.  The ACLJ has been working in this country and abroad to secure his freedom and has heard from more than 580,000 people demanding his release.

The ACLJ represents Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, and their two young children who reside in the U.S.

Led by ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has affiliated offices in Israel, Russia, Kenya, France, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. The ACLJ is online at aclj.org.