ACLJ: American Pastor Imprisoned In Iran Writes Thank-you Letter To President Obama For Meeting With His Family

(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced today that American Pastor Saeed Abedini has written a letter to President Obama thanking him for meeting last week with his wife Naghmeh and their two young children. The letter, posted here, was delivered to a family member who visited with Pastor Saeed in his Iranian prison cell.

“I was personally encouraged that you were in my hometown of Boise, Idaho and made time to visit my wife and children,” Pastor Saeed writes. “They have had a heavy burden to carry in my absence, and your presence helped to relieve some of that burden. . . Thank you again for standing up for my family and I and for thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation.”

Pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen, has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly two-and-a-half years merely because of his Christian faith.

In a face-to-face meeting with the Abedini family last week, President Obama promised to make Pastor Saeed’s freedom a “top priority,” even telling Pastor Saeed’s son, Jacob, that he “will try” to work to get Pastor Saeed home by Jacob’s birthday in March.

“The meeting with President Obama was critical in elevating Pastor Saeed’s case,” said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ, which represents Pastor Saeed’s wife and children. “Now it is time to bring Pastor Saeed home.  We will continue working with the Obama Administration, the State Department, the United Nations, and world leaders toward Pastor Saeed’s freedom.”

The meeting between the President and the Abedinis occurred after more than 100,000 people signed on to an ACLJ letter urging President Obama to meet with the family.

Pastor Saeed’s two young children – Jacob and Rebekka – have recorded a personal plea asking President Obama to bring their father home. That video is available here.

The ACLJ continues to work in this country and abroad to secure the safety and freedom of Pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen who has been imprisoned in Iran for nearly two and a half years merely because of his Christian faith.

Led by ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice is headquartered in Washington, D.C.