Secretary Kerry Makes Impassioned Plea For American Pastor Saeed’s Release
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued an impassioned plea for the release of several Americans imprisoned in Iran including American Pastor Saeed Abedini.
His statement focused on the immense hardship faced by Pastor Saeed’s family in his absence.
The Unites States respectfully calls on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to release Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason Rezaian to their families and work cooperatively with us to find Robert Levinson and bring him home. . . .
On September 26, Mr. Abedini will have been detained for two years in Iran, on charges related to his religious beliefs. Mrs. Abedini has spoken eloquently about the difficulties her family has faced during this challenging time. . . .
The United States remains committed to returning all of them to their families, friends, and loved ones. We ask the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately release . . . Saeed Abedini . . . .
The statement’s tone is a marked difference and a welcomed acknowledgement of the severe difficulty faced by Pastor Saeed’s family. Pastor Saeed – a 34-year-old U.S. citizen – has done nothing wrong; he is imprisoned merely because of his religious beliefs. His wife, Naghmeh, and two young children, Jacob and Rebekka, desperately miss and deserve Saeed back home.
The reality of what Pastor Saeed’s family faces on a daily basis without their loving husband and father was best expressed by Pastor Saeed’s children in a recent video. In the video they pled for President Obama to do more for their father’s freedom and implore Iran’s leaders to let their father come home to them.
We are thankful for the Obama Administration’s renewed focus on Pastor Saeed’s plight. We continue urging the Administration to do all within its power to bring him safely home to his family.
As Secretary Kerry correctly notes, September 26th marks the two-year anniversary of Pastor Saeed’s wrongful imprisonment in Iran for his Christian faith.
On that day, thousands of people around the world will join together is hundreds of cities worldwide in a global day of prayer for Pastor Saeed and the persecuted Church.
As Pastor Saeed has said, knowing “that in my chains the body of Christ has chained together” in prayer greatly encourages him during his ordeal.
Learn more about a prayer vigil in your city or register to host an event at SaeedVigil.com.
Join over 287,000 people in signing the petition for his freedom at BeHeardProject.com.
As we continue fighting across the globe for Pastor Saeed’s release, please continue to pray and share his story.