Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini Remains in Prison

With the second anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of American – Iranian Pastor Saeed Abedini, Christians around the world are calling on the Iranian Government to honour their promise and release him from prison. Pastor Saeed was convicted on 27th January 2013 for allegedly undermining Iranian security through his involvement with house churches. He was sentenced to 8 years in one of Iran’s toughest prisons.

Reports of the abuse that he has received in his time in prison are alarming, and include physical violence so bad that he needed hospital care for severe internal injuries. However, although he was in hospital, he was denied pain medication and care, due to being “unclean” because of his Christian faith.

The Iranian Government reported at the time of his conviction that he would soon be released, but there has, as yet, been no sign on this happening. Many organisations are advocating on his behalf, including the UN and International Christian Concern, who state that “His only crime is his faith in Jesus Christ and that he met together with others who share that faith, activities which are legal under the Iranian constitution.”

• Pray for Pastor Saeed Abdeni, and many like him, who are imprisoned and abused because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for Pastor Saeed’s family – his wife and 2 young children – that they will not lose heart, but their faith will be strong and they will know the loving arms of Father God around them
• Pray for organisations advocating on behalf of Pastor Saeed, that their calls for clemency and justice will be heard and that he will be released soon.
• Pray for the Iranian church as it experiences an explosion of growth, that Iranian Christians will have courage and boldness to share their faith, and a depth of faith and love for God that is itself a witness in their communities and families of the truth of the Gospel.
• Pray for the Iranian government, to see Christianity not as a threat, but as truth and light.

Romans 12 vs 12:  Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Source: ICC – www.persecution.org