ICC Note: The situation inside Iran remains extremely tense for Pastor Saeed Abedini as well as friends and family who have also faced intense persecution as a result of their Christian faith. Congress has increased its efforts to work for Saeed’s release and to see the American citizen reunited with his wife and children in the U.S. There have been recent efforts in both the House, with a resolution with some 80 cosponsors, and the Senate, both a resolution and a letter to the President, to advocate for the use of greater diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Saeed from the Iranian prison.
By Matthew Clark
11/14/2013 Iran (ACLJ) – In light of the dire situation Pastor Saeed now faces having been transferred to a deadly new prison where he is being withheld critical medicine, Members of Congress are redoubling their efforts to bring this persecuted pastor home.
Senator Roy Blunt (MO) recently called the White House to urge President Obama to directly re-engage in the fight to free Pastor Saeed, a U.S. citizen.
After the phone call, he posted the following on his Facebook and Twitter pages:
Senator Roy Blunt ✔ @RoyBlunt Follow
Called WH officials to stress the need for urgent action for #PastorSaeed. Obama admin must continue efforts to secure his release from Iran
9:31 PM – 13 Nov 2013
In addition, congressional resolutions in both the House and Senate continue to make significant steps forward.
Yesterday, a resolution for Pastor Saeed in the House of Representatives passed a key committee hurdle. H. Res. 147, a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Representative Bill Cassidy (LA-6) and cosponsored by 78 members of both political parties, was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release Pastor Saeed.
In the Senate, 23 Senators have sent President Obama a bipartisan letter urging him to directly engage diplomatically for Pastor Saeed’s release. The bipartisan Senate resolution also continues to proceed in the Senate. We are hopeful that it too will clear key procedural hurdles in a timely fashion.
…
[Full Story]