Iran sentences U.S. pastor to 8 years in prison, group says
Saeed Abedini, a resident of Idaho, was charged wtih trying to undermine the Iranian government.
January 27th, 2013
05:20 PM ET

Iran sentences U.S. pastor to 8 years in prison, group says

An Iranian judge has sentenced an American Christian pastor to eight years in prison after he was tried for his religious beliefs, a U.S.-based religious group said Sunday.

Saeed Abedini was swiftly sentenced by a member of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Court, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, an organization founded by television evangelist Pat Robertson.

CNN was not immediately able to confirm what went on in the court proceedings.

FULL STORY
Post by:
Filed under: Iran • Religion • World
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. the prophet

    Ridiculous it's time for people of the world to take all governments down

    January 27, 2013 at 5:23 pm | Report abuse |
  2. chrissy

    Why WOULD any American citizen want to move to Iran in the first place? There are plenty of souls that need saving right here so i would think he would have lots of work here.

    January 27, 2013 at 5:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

      @ chrissy:
      Good evening.
      Why go there? Because "Onward, Christian Soldiers" is so much fun to sing. It always works in a service.

      January 27, 2013 at 6:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Portland tony

      He's an Iranian Expat! That's why?

      January 27, 2013 at 7:58 pm | Report abuse |
  3. chrissy

    Lol @ Joey, i love singing too tho i imagine it would be quite hard to do if one dies.

    January 27, 2013 at 6:58 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Portland tony

    So now, he can spread the "Gospel" among the inmates. The lord works in mysterious ways, I guess!

    January 27, 2013 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
  5. saywhat

    He was not charged for his religious beliefs, thats a misleading statement. Iran has had a christian & Jewish population for centuries.
    he was charged for a activities which the Govt considered subversive.

    January 27, 2013 at 9:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. saywhat

    The extent of anti-Iran propaganda we are fed on a daily basis would be apparent if you read "Iran" by Merlin Miller.
    Merlin Miller is a Wst Point grad, US army veteran, writer & film maker.

    January 27, 2013 at 10:08 pm | Report abuse |
  7. saywhat

    Miller recently spent some time in Iran while attending Int.Independant Film makers festival.
    good night all.

    January 27, 2013 at 10:10 pm | Report abuse |
  8. libertygrace

    I don't care what the Iranian government says Saeed Abedini was charged with, our State Department should be working to get him out of Iran, but not John Kerry and Barack Obama, If this man were Muslim, he would get special treatment and a personal invitation to the White House!

    March 21, 2013 at 6:58 am | Report abuse |
  9. cedarbranchnikon

    a statement delivered Thursday in Geneva by Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, the U.S. representative on the U.N. Human Rights Council.
    She said: "Iranian officials continue to restrict these communities' freedom to practice their religious beliefs free from harassment, threat or intimidation. Christian pastor Saeed Abedini's continuing harsh treatment at the hands of Iranian authorities exemplifies this trend.
    "We repeat our call for the government of Iran to release Mr. Abedini, and others who are unjustly imprisoned, and to cease immediately its persecution of all religious minority communities. The United States also repeats its call for the government of Iran to provide without delay the urgent medical attention Mr. Abedini needs."

    The last letter received by his family states hie face was beaten so badly he barely recognized himself in the mirror. Imprisonment is one thing, brutality is another.

    March 22, 2013 at 4:53 pm | Report abuse |
« Back to main