19th January, 2016
DAN WOODING
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), has been able to talk with Pastor Saeed Abedini – a US citizen – following his release last weekend from an Iranian prison after more than three years of harsh imprisonment for his Christian faith.
In a phone call from a US military hospital in Germany where he’s being treated, Pastor Saeed thanked our entire ACLJ team and the more than 1.1 million ACLJ members who worked to secure his freedom, saying, “May God bless you for everything you did”.
Mr Sekulow, who also hosts a talk show in the US which airs on radio and television and is a frequent guest commentator on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the Fox News Channel, said: “I cannot underscore enough how grateful he is for the tireless efforts of the millions of people who prayed and spoke out for his freedom over the last nearly three and a half years.
“Pastor Saeed has endured the worst conditions imaginable. He is now free and looking forward to returning home to America. He is receiving much-needed medical care at a US military base in Germany and his road to recovery from all he has endured will take some time. Please continue to pray for Pastor Saeed and his family.”
Mr Sekulow went on to say, “I want to join Pastor Saeed in thanking all our friends and members here at the ACLJ who have stood with us, resolute, in our advocacy across the globe for Pastor Saeed’s freedom.
“As we celebrate his release, it is important to remember that Pastor Saeed was just one of thousands imprisoned for their faith and millions facing deadly persecution just for being Christians.”
He added: “Now that Pastor Saeed is free and safe, we turn our attention and advocacy to the plight of numerous other persecuted Christians. More than 1.1 million of you made your voice heard for Pastor Saeed, and now he is free. It’s time for us to raise our voices again. Be heard with us as we aggressively advocate for Christians in the Middle East facing genocide for their faith.”
Meanwhile, Naghmeh Abedini, wife of released Pastor Saeed Abedini, has thanked President Barack Obama, Rev Franklin Graham, the various groups that campaigned for her husband’s release, and the millions of people around the world who signed petitions for the cause.
On Sunday she revealed that Obama had personally called her, and she tweeted, “I just had a wonderful call w/ @BarackObama @POTUS ! Our family is so thankful for all the hard work and support in bringing Saeed home.”
Pastor Abedini, whose home is in Boise, Idaho, spent over three years in prison for his Christian faith, and was released alongside three other Americans by the Iranian government as part of a reported prisoner exchange.
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US-IRANIAN PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI FREED IN PRISONER SWAP
Morning Star News reports that US-Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini has been released from prison in Iran as part of a prisoner swap agreement with the US more than three years after he was arrested… | more… |
