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Mr. President: Will you bring home American pastor imprisoned in Iran?
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DP
May 1, 2015, 12:49:57 AM5/1/15
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There is much at stake as efforts intensify to reach an
agreement with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Discussions
about nuclear enrichment and centrifuges may be central to these
negotiations, but there’s another topic that should be addressed.
March 26 marked two and a half years since American Pastor Saeed
Abedini was imprisoned in Iran, jailed simply because of his
Christian faith. His health is worsening. In a prison where
torture and executions are commonplace, Pastor Saeed continues
to face grave threats and an uncertain future.
The Obama administration has been vocal in calling for Pastor
Saeed’s release. In a face-to-face meeting with the Abedini
family in January, President Obama told them that he considers
securing the release of Pastor Saeed a “top priority.” He also
told the family that his negotiating team – led by Secretary of
State John Kerry – continues to bring up Pastor Saeed’s case
with the Iranians.
If that’s the case, this troubling question remains: Why hasn’t
Pastor Saeed been released? Like the nuclear talks, there are
questions for both sides regarding Pastor Saeed.
Why can’t the U.S. make it happen? Can’t officials apply
pressure to free this U.S. citizen? And for Iran -- which
clearly needs to earn the world’s trust -- what better way
exists for the Iranians to take an important step forward?
By releasing Pastor Saeed, Iran would make an international
gesture of goodwill
By releasing Pastor Saeed, Iran would make an international
gesture of goodwill. Why doesn’t Iran send a powerful message to
the world by sending this husband and father of two young
children home?
Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, knows this is a critical time.
“For our family, we feel like we are on the brink of change, but
our hope holds on cautiously,” Naghmeh said. “Whether our
government will faithfully bring my husband and my children’s
father home is yet to be seen. We hope and pray that our
government will not walk away from negotiations with Iran
without first securing the liberty of Saeed and the other
Americans being detained.”
For Pastor Saeed, the last two-and-a-half years have seemed like
a lifetime. He’s missed birthdays (even writing his son Jacob a
birthday letter from his prison cell earlier this month),
celebrations, anniversaries and holidays. And, with Easter
approaching, there is even more pain for Pastor Saeed and his
family.
“I am flooded with memories of Saeed teaching the biblical
lessons to our children,” said Naghmeh. “This holiday meant so
much to him. It wasn’t about finding Easter eggs, but rather
about knowing the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us. It
is because of His sacrifice that we live – and thus, I know that
Saeed’s sufferings only bring him closer to Christ. But the mom
in me wonders – as I re-create some of the Easter traditions
Saeed and I made for our children – how many more times must I
do this alone?”
How much longer must Pastor Saeed be separated from Naghmeh and
his two children, Rebekka and Jacob? When will he be freed from
prison and return home to his family in Idaho?
Sadly, the answers to those questions have been elusive.
So, there’s a lot at stake right now when it comes to reaching a
final agreement between Iran and the United States.
Yes, a deal preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a
top priority. But, as President Obama told the Abedini family
not long ago, so is securing the freedom of Pastor Saeed.
Will you make it happen, Mr. President?
Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and
Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law. He is
author of the New York Times bestseller, "Rise of ISIS: A Threat
We Can't Ignore." He hosts "Jay Sekulow Live" -- a daily radio
show which is broadcast on more than 850 stations nationwide as
well as Sirius/XM satellite radio. Follow him on Twitter
@JaySekulow.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/03/30/mr-president-will-
bring-home-american-pastor-imprisoned-in-
iran/?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obinsite
agreement with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Discussions
about nuclear enrichment and centrifuges may be central to these
negotiations, but there’s another topic that should be addressed.
March 26 marked two and a half years since American Pastor Saeed
Abedini was imprisoned in Iran, jailed simply because of his
Christian faith. His health is worsening. In a prison where
torture and executions are commonplace, Pastor Saeed continues
to face grave threats and an uncertain future.
The Obama administration has been vocal in calling for Pastor
Saeed’s release. In a face-to-face meeting with the Abedini
family in January, President Obama told them that he considers
securing the release of Pastor Saeed a “top priority.” He also
told the family that his negotiating team – led by Secretary of
State John Kerry – continues to bring up Pastor Saeed’s case
with the Iranians.
If that’s the case, this troubling question remains: Why hasn’t
Pastor Saeed been released? Like the nuclear talks, there are
questions for both sides regarding Pastor Saeed.
Why can’t the U.S. make it happen? Can’t officials apply
pressure to free this U.S. citizen? And for Iran -- which
clearly needs to earn the world’s trust -- what better way
exists for the Iranians to take an important step forward?
By releasing Pastor Saeed, Iran would make an international
gesture of goodwill
By releasing Pastor Saeed, Iran would make an international
gesture of goodwill. Why doesn’t Iran send a powerful message to
the world by sending this husband and father of two young
children home?
Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, knows this is a critical time.
“For our family, we feel like we are on the brink of change, but
our hope holds on cautiously,” Naghmeh said. “Whether our
government will faithfully bring my husband and my children’s
father home is yet to be seen. We hope and pray that our
government will not walk away from negotiations with Iran
without first securing the liberty of Saeed and the other
Americans being detained.”
For Pastor Saeed, the last two-and-a-half years have seemed like
a lifetime. He’s missed birthdays (even writing his son Jacob a
birthday letter from his prison cell earlier this month),
celebrations, anniversaries and holidays. And, with Easter
approaching, there is even more pain for Pastor Saeed and his
family.
“I am flooded with memories of Saeed teaching the biblical
lessons to our children,” said Naghmeh. “This holiday meant so
much to him. It wasn’t about finding Easter eggs, but rather
about knowing the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us. It
is because of His sacrifice that we live – and thus, I know that
Saeed’s sufferings only bring him closer to Christ. But the mom
in me wonders – as I re-create some of the Easter traditions
Saeed and I made for our children – how many more times must I
do this alone?”
How much longer must Pastor Saeed be separated from Naghmeh and
his two children, Rebekka and Jacob? When will he be freed from
prison and return home to his family in Idaho?
Sadly, the answers to those questions have been elusive.
So, there’s a lot at stake right now when it comes to reaching a
final agreement between Iran and the United States.
Yes, a deal preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a
top priority. But, as President Obama told the Abedini family
not long ago, so is securing the freedom of Pastor Saeed.
Will you make it happen, Mr. President?
Jay Sekulow is Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and
Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law. He is
author of the New York Times bestseller, "Rise of ISIS: A Threat
We Can't Ignore." He hosts "Jay Sekulow Live" -- a daily radio
show which is broadcast on more than 850 stations nationwide as
well as Sirius/XM satellite radio. Follow him on Twitter
@JaySekulow.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/03/30/mr-president-will-
bring-home-american-pastor-imprisoned-in-
iran/?intcmp=ob_article_footer_text&intcmp=obinsite
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