AMERICAN PASTOR IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
More than ten years ago, Saeed Abedini, a 32-year-old Christian and American citizen, labored tirelessly to establish a network of home groups in Iran. Since Christian prayers were not allowed in public churches in the country, the home groups became the gathering place of Christian converts.
After being arrested in 2005 for his activities, he was released, having pledged never to evangelize in Iran again. He and his family returned to the United States and took up residence in Idaho. The summer of 2012 he returned to Iran to establish and build a state-run, secular orphanage. Upon arriving he was promptly arrested and imprisoned for “acts against the national security of Iran.” After spending months in confinement without any official notice of charges, without representation, and even without his presence in the courtroom, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. This last Monday marked his 215th day of imprisonment.
Just recently he was put in solitary confinement following a “peaceful, silent protest” in an outside courtyard of Iran’s notoriously brutal Evin prison. A petition signed by Abedini and other prisoners, decrying the lack of medical care, threats, and harsh treatment facing family members who come to visit, resulted in their isolation. Now family members fear the severe conditions have resulted in a dramatic deterioration of his physical and mental condition.
“Saeed had previously told his family that when he was in solitary confinement in the past, that was the hardest time in his life. That every hour was like one year and that he was losing his memory and his health was deteriorating quickly,” said his wife, Naghmeh Abedini, who is at the family’s home in Idaho with their two young children.
“We believe that he is being beaten in solitary confinement. We have no way of finding out about his health. There will be no more visitations allowed and we will have no way of knowing how Saeed is doing,” she said.
As a result of frequent beatings Abedini has, for months, been suffering from internal bleeding, according to his supporters. Now there is concern that his kidneys are no longer functioning properly. As of this week he is no longer permitted to have visitors, increasing the family’s anxiety over his worsening condition.
“We know that a tactic used by the Iranians is to place prisoners in solitary confinement in an effort to get them to give into the demands of prison officials—in Pastor Saeed’s case, to recant his Christian faith.”
As his family and attorneys continue to pressure the U.S. State Department, seemingly without much success, and other public and private groups to facilitate his release, it is clear that due to harsh conditions he won’t be able to hold out for much longer.
The complicated and “soft” diplomatic efforts of the present Administration toward Iran have only served to diminish any negotiating power that could save this man’s life. The attitude of appeasement and “sensitivity” toward Iran’s outrageous actions and statements have only served to project an air of weakness in the “War of Words” between Iran and the U.S. The Abedini family is experiencing firsthand the results of a failed foreign policy that can’t even protect its own citizens. Where is the outrage that a U.S. citizen is being denied adequate medical attention? If Iran doesn’t want him in their country serving the poor and orphaned, then send him home. But he is a U.S. citizen. Treating our citizens poorly used to carry with it dire consequences to all involved. No man left behind. But in these days of appeasement and “tolerance,” the few are sacrificed for the Policy. What have we come to? Is this really the country we want? Where is the outrage? And where is our government at times such as this? Mr. Obama, bring Saeed home before it is too late.
Related Links:
American Pastor Saeed Abedini Thrown into Solitary Confinement in Iran; Health Deteriorating
— ACLJ
Iran Moves American Christian Into Solitary Confinement Over Prayer Protest
— FOX News
Iranian Officials Throw American Pastor Saeed Abedini Into Solitary Confinement
— Charisma News
