Washington Examiner - State Department Dodges Hearing With Wife of American Pastor Jailed in Iran

By Joel Gehrke, WashingtonExaminer.com

State Department officials avoided a confrontation with the wife of an American pastor imprisoned in Iran by skipping a congressional hearing about whether the United States is doing enough to pressure Iran about human rights abuses.

“I must tell you that I am disappointed with my government,” Naghmeh Abedini, who lives with her family in Idaho, said in her statement before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission today on Capitol Hill. “I am disappointed that our President and our State Department have not fully engaged this case – disappointed that this great country is not doing more to free my husband, a U.S. citizen.”. . .

“The fact that the State Department refused to send a representative to this hearing underscores the lack of concern and engagement by the Obama Administration in securing the freedom of a U.S. citizen,” said Jordan Sekulow. We believe that there is a great deal more that our White House and State Department can and should do for Pastor Saeed. To date, there has been minimal involvement from the White House press secretary and a State Department spokesperson. Their brief statements have come only as responses to questions asked by reporters. There is no formal written statement from either the White House or the State Department condemning Iran and calling for Pastor Saeed’s release. Our President and Secretary of State should lend their voices personally to the growing chorus calling for Pastor Saeed’s release.”. . .

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