Iranian officials are now threatening American Pastor Saeed Abedini that he will be held longer than his eight-year sentence unless he recants his faith.
Pastor Saeed Abedini Given Ultimatum- ‘Deny Christ or Face Longer Prison Time’
We have just obtained a new letter from Pastor Saeed, dated March 9th, where he talks about the humiliation and psychological torture he undergoes on a daily basis.
In this new letter, he writes:
?Deny your faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam or else you will not be released from prison. We will make sure you are kept here even after your 8 year sentence is finished.? These are the threats that prison officials throw at me.
My response to them is Romans 8:35-39. The reality of Christian living is that difficulties or problems do arise in our lives. Persecution and difficulties are not new occurrences, but are seen often in the Christian life.? It is through the suffering and tribulations that we are to enter the Kingdom of God.
He closes the letter: “Pastor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see you soon. Evin Prison 9th March 2013.”
It is clear that Pastor Saeed?s faith is what is keeping him alive ? sustaining him ? as the mental and physical abuse he suffers at the hands of the brutal Islamic regime weakens his body.
The U.S. State Department, Secretary of State John Kerry and the European Union have all called for the pastor’s release, and over 550,000 people worldwide from over 180 countries have signed a petition lending him support.
“Pastor Saeed is refusing to deny Christ. We must let him know that we will never forget him and will never stop working for his release,” the ACLJ has said.
The law group also started a letter-writing campaign?for Abedini’s birthday on May 7, hoping that all the notes will “flood” Evin Prison. Those who wish to add their letter to the 20,000 already written can do so by going to SaveSaeed.org.