Baptist Press - Abedini faces death threats from ISIS
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) -- Saeed Abedini, the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith, has received death threats from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists being held in the same prison, the American Center for Law and Justice reported today (Aug. 13).
"This is an extremely dangerous development that puts Pastor Saeed's life at grave risk," ACLJ chief counsel Jay Sekulow said. "Not only is Pastor Saeed facing threats from Iranian militants who have imprisoned him because of his Christian faith, he now faces new and perhaps even more dangerous threats from Iraqi ISIS prisoners who want to murder Pastor Saeed because of his faith. We call on President Obama and Secretary [of State John] Kerry to intervene immediately to secure Pastor Saeed's release and to ensure that he is protected during this transfer to freedom. Pastor Saeed, who is approaching his second year of imprisonment in Iran, must be returned to his family without delay."
Abedini told family members that he is being held in the same ward of Rajai Shahr Prison as members of ISIS -- the jihadist group that has murdered Christians and other religious minorities in its conquest of an area spanning Iraq and Syria. Although Abedini is in a separate section of the ward, other prisoners have told him that the ISIS inmates intend to murder him for his Christian faith, ACLJ reported. . . .