Pain Increasing for American Pastor Saeed Abedini

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

TEHRAN, IRAN (ANS) -- The Iranian family of American Pastor Saeed Abedini was once again able to visit him in Evin prison in Iran. Despite previous threats from Iranian authorities that they would cut off Pastor Saeed's visitation, he was able to spend some brief time with his family in Iran on Monday, August 12, 2013.

Saeed Abedini

In a story, Matthew Clark, Associate Counsel for Government Affairs and Media Advocacy with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) in the Washington, D.C. headquarters, says, "Unfortunately, we have learned that Pastor Saeed's internal injuries are causing him increased pain. Pastor Saeed has been suffering from internal bleeding - the results of intense beatings he has sustained in prison for his faith.

"Recently, Iranian authorities allowed him to be treated by a doctor at a local hospital. Since that time, he has continued to take the medication he was prescribed. However, his pain has recently increased, to the point that on one occasion he fainted from the immense anguish.

"This is a disturbing turn of events. It serves as a renewed reminder of the dangerous conditions Pastor Saeed faces in one of the world's worst prisons."

Clark went on to say that Iran must see to it that Pastor Saeed is "treated humanely and receives the critical medical attention he so desperately needs."

He added, "He must be release from this torment for his Christian faith and be allowed to return home to receive medical attention in the United States and more importantly to be reunited with his loving family."

Clark said that even as Pastor Saeed suffers, Iran's brutal crackdown on Christians continues stating that there are reports that three more Christians were just recently arrested without charge in Iran. Reportedly, they have been beaten, one to the point of being hospitalized.

Another was recently convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison (by the same notorious judge who convicted and sentenced Saeed) for, among other things, membership in an "anti-security organization," i.e. a Christian church. Court documents obtained by an Iranian Christian media source show that he had previously been found guilty of "apostasy" (converting to Christianity).

"It is vitally important that we highlight these situations," said Clark. "Pastor Saeed is the face of Christian persecution in Iran, but he is far from the only one. The ACLJ is preparing to launch new initiatives to highlight the persecuted church around the world and the work to expose their human rights abusers and shine light into the darkest corners of the globe. We will continue to bring you updates on Pastor Saeed's and these new efforts.

"Please continue to pray for Pastor Saeed's freedom, share his story and how your friends can take action athttp://savesaeed.org, and learn more about the upcoming prayer vigils being sponsored around the globe onSeptember 26th."