Pastor Saeed Abedini, 34, has been imprisoned for almost two years in Iran for his Christian faith. September 26 marks the 2nd year mark, and his family and supporters are planning to hold prayer vigils all over the world on that day in hopes that it will influence his return.
"The kids and I are longing to see Saeed returned home safely to us," said Naghmeh Abedini, Pastor Saeed's wife.
"We are praying for a miracle," she continued. "My hope is that, as thousands gather together on September 26, our governments and leaders will be reminded of the importance of religious freedom for all and continue to pressure Iran to secure Saeed's release."
Abedini, 34, was arrested in 2012 while he was between the borders of Turkey and Iran when he was entering Iran legally. Soldiers who identified themselves as members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps forced Abedini off of the bus in which he was entering the country, after which he was placed under house arrest, and then taken to an unknown location. He has been imprisoned since, and has endured solitary confinement, malnourishment, and beatings during his imprisonment.
Abedini's arbitrary arrest and imprisonment has been drawing international attention. A United Nations human rights panel denounced Pastor Saeed Abedini's imprisonment in Iran in July of last year, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of his arrest and the way in which his arrest and imprisonment have been a violation of his human rights.
"The Working Group recalls that United Nations experts on Iran and freedom of religion expressed concern over the situation of religious minorities, including Christians, in Iran," reads the six-page document by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the U.N. Human Rights Council.
"The experts reiterated that no individual should be arrested for peacefully exercising the rights to freedom of religion and belief, expression and association," the document continues. "According to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, Iran should ensure that the right of Christians, as a group, to freedom of religion is granted in practice."
The day after last year's prayer vigil, held also on September 26, "President Obama made a historic phone call to President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, in which Obama expressed concern about Abedini's treatment and called for his release," according to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the law firm which represents and has been advocating for Abedini.
"Pastor Saeed has become the face of the persecuted Christian church worldwide, one of many Christians around the world who face imprisonment, beatings, and even death for their faith," said Jordan Sekulow, the executive director of ACLJ. "As the world's eye turns to violence against Christians in the Middle East, we raise a united voice in urging Iran to free Pastor Saeed and grant him clemency. It's time for Saeed to come home."
More than 400 prayer vigils in 30 countries and territories will be taking place on September 26. Prayer vigil locations and more specific information can be found at http://beheardproject.com/prayer-vigil/saeed.
