More individuals and organisations have joined the call for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini from his wrongful imprisonment in Iran. One of them is Pastor Franklin Graham.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Graham is urging US President Barack Obama to do something about it. "Mr. President, American pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned in Iran for two-and-half years, and last week he suffered another severe beating at the hands of inmates," he wrote.
"His life is continuously threatened not only because he's an American, but also because he's a Christian. This was why he was arrested—and he has been told his only way out is to deny Jesus Christ," Graham said.
He recalled that the White House worked extensively to have Egyptian-American Mohamed Soltan released from an Egyptian prison last month.
Soltan was sentenced to life in prison after he was accused of having ties with the radical Muslim Brotherhood group, said Graham, noting that Soltan also worked on Obama's campaign during the time when his father was a prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Graham said he believes that the US government has the power to negotiate for the release of its imprisoned citizens as he expressed hopes that Abedini would also be eventually released just like Soltan.
"Mr. President, I hope you'll do the same to help Saeed Abedini—who is guilty of nothing, was sentenced to 8-years in prison, and whose only affiliation is with the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians, pray with me for Saeed's protection and for his release," he said.
The American Center for Law and Justice revealed that after the beating Abedini received from his fellow prisoners, they even destroyed the small table the pastor used to study and pray.
"It is heartbreaking to me and my family that Saeed was again beaten in prison. Saeed's life is continuously threatened not only because he is an American but also because he is a convert from Islam to Christianity. It's time to get Saeed home before it is too late," his wife Naghmeh pleaded.
