Senate Urges Obama to Free Pastor Imprisoned in Iran
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News)– The U.S. Senate has voted unanimously to pass a resolution urging the Obama administration to do more to free an American pastor imprisoned in Iran since 2012.
According to the Christian News Network, Pastor Saeed Abedini — an Christian convert from Islam — left Iran and moved his family to the U.S. in 2005 after being harassed by Iranian authorities for establishing a network of underground house churches.
In 2012, Abedini returned to Iran to build an orphanage, but instead he was arrested and charged with attempting to turn Iran’s youth from Islam and towards Christianity. Abedini was sentenced to eight years in Iran’s Evin Prison.
As Abedini — along with fellow Americans Amir Hekmati and Jason Rezaian — remains imprisoned in Iran, Congress urged the Obama administration to use all diplomatic means to secure their release.
“Saeed Abedini has reportedly been held prisoner for what would appear to be the supposed crime of attempting to build and operate an orphanage,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “Beaten, denied access to medical care, and locked away in solitary confinement — that’s apparently how the Iranian regime deals with those who dare to show love and compassion to others….”