Pastor Saeed Abedini, his wife and two children at Disneyland before his imprisonment in Iran.
It has happened again. But this time, it is an American pastor thrown in an Iranian prison. American Pastor Saeed Abedini, from Idaho, was in Iran helping to start an orphanage. He is now charged with converting from Islam and undermining the government, and has been sentenced to 8 years in an Iranian prison. This sentencing violates multiple international human rights treaties to which Iran willingly and voluntarily became a signatory. It even violates the constitution of Iran itself.
Pastor Saeed is in one of the most brutal and notorious prisons in Iran, the Evin prison. This 34-year old husband and father of two young children is an American citizen, although he was born in Iran. He converted from Islam to Christianity 13 years ago, and in the early 2000’s was active in Christian house church ministries in Iran – at which time the Iranian government did not view these activities as a threat.
Last August, 2012, Pastor Saeed returned to his native land to help start an orphanage. He was not engaged in evangelistic activity. As he was riding on a bus, the bus was stopped; he was pulled off and arrested, and thrown into Evin Prison in Tehran. Until late January’s trial, Pastor Saeed did not know the exact crimes he was accused of committing. During the trial, the prosecutor outlined the charges, stating that Pastor Saeed had undermined the Iranian government by establishing a group of Christian house churches and through them trying to reach Iranian youth. It became clear that the trial and the charges stem from his conversion to Christianity 13 years ago (converting from Islam is a crime in Iran) and that early work with house churches. It is important that at the time, that work was not illegal.
Pastor Saeed is standing for Jesus in a dark place. He is subject to treatment that we cannot even imagine at this point. Beatings and torture are daily possibilities. Won’t you stand up for him today?
Here are some ways you can help:
1) Sign the petition to be presented to the UN – find the petition at savesaeed.org
2) Share this on your facebook page and encourage others to share it as well. Spread the word!
3) Help get him trending on twitter by tweeting #savesaeed - social media awareness has helped in previous cases.
4) Please get this information to your church prayer chains, bible studies, email groups, homeschool groups, student groups.
5)Most importantly - Pray with your family for Pastor Saeed and his family.
Standing for Him,
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity
Pastor Saeed is in one of the most brutal and notorious prisons in Iran, the Evin prison. This 34-year old husband and father of two young children is an American citizen, although he was born in Iran. He converted from Islam to Christianity 13 years ago, and in the early 2000’s was active in Christian house church ministries in Iran – at which time the Iranian government did not view these activities as a threat.
Last August, 2012, Pastor Saeed returned to his native land to help start an orphanage. He was not engaged in evangelistic activity. As he was riding on a bus, the bus was stopped; he was pulled off and arrested, and thrown into Evin Prison in Tehran. Until late January’s trial, Pastor Saeed did not know the exact crimes he was accused of committing. During the trial, the prosecutor outlined the charges, stating that Pastor Saeed had undermined the Iranian government by establishing a group of Christian house churches and through them trying to reach Iranian youth. It became clear that the trial and the charges stem from his conversion to Christianity 13 years ago (converting from Islam is a crime in Iran) and that early work with house churches. It is important that at the time, that work was not illegal.
Pastor Saeed is standing for Jesus in a dark place. He is subject to treatment that we cannot even imagine at this point. Beatings and torture are daily possibilities. Won’t you stand up for him today?
Here are some ways you can help:
1) Sign the petition to be presented to the UN – find the petition at savesaeed.org
2) Share this on your facebook page and encourage others to share it as well. Spread the word!
3) Help get him trending on twitter by tweeting #savesaeed - social media awareness has helped in previous cases.
4) Please get this information to your church prayer chains, bible studies, email groups, homeschool groups, student groups.
5)Most importantly - Pray with your family for Pastor Saeed and his family.
Standing for Him,
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity
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