Christian Post - US Commission Demands Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini's Immediate Release Days Before Trial

January 17, 2013

2 min read

Middle East

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By Stoyan Zaimov, ChristianPost.com

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has joined calls for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini, who is set to stand trial and possibly face the death penalty in Iran next week. . . .

The charge that authorities have been made against Abedini apparently refers back to 2000, when the pastor converted to Christianity, and alleges that he has "endangering" the national security of Iran. The American Center for Law and Justice, who are representing his wife and two children back in the U.S., said that it was "a typical charge brought by the radical Islamic regime against those it wishes to persecute for their religious beliefs. His court file indicated that this national security charge was directly related to his work starting a house church movement in Iran.". . .

The ACLJ further reminded concerned citizens that although President Barack Obama and the rest of the U.S. marked National Religious Freedom Day on Jan. 16, pastors like Abedini and many other people of faith remain imprisoned based on dubious charges, and the State Department needs to step up and do everything possible to help them in their plight. . . .

You can read the entire story here.