ICC Note: September 26 will mark three years since American pastor Saeed Abedini was imprisoned in Iran. Convicted on charges related to working with house churches more than five years prior, Pastor Saeed has been sentenced to eight years in prison. He has endured incredible amounts of suffering since his imprisonment. As Iran seeks to normalize its place in the world, the case of Pastor Saeed is emblematic of the long way to go on basic fundamental rights.

09/22/2015 Iran (USCIRF) – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) marks the three-year anniversary of the imprisonment in Iran of Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American pastor. Since September 26, 2012, Pastor Abedini has been jailed unjustly, allegedly for “threatening the national security of Iran.”

“The Iranian government’s continued imprisonment of Pastor Abedini is a gross violation of the internationally-protected right to freedom of religion or belief. The Iranian government actively suppresses any religious belief and activity it disapproves of and denies any semblance of rule of law that meets international standards,” said USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George. “USCIRF calls on the Iranian government to ensure Pastor Abedini’s safety and immediately and unconditionally release him. USCIRF also calls on the United States and the international community to raise Pastor Abedini’s case in all international fora, and for the U.S. government to freeze the assets and entry into the U.S. of all Iranian officials responsible for serious violations of religious freedom and related human rights against Pastor Abedini and other prisoners of conscience.”

Pastor Abedini was arrested three years ago for his humanitarian activity in the Christian house church movement and was given an eight-year sentence on January 27, 2013 by “hanging judge” Judge Pir-Abassi.

…