Imprisoned Pastor Saeed Writes a Poignant Letter to President Obama

American Pastor Saeed Abedini has written a letter from his Iranian jail cell to President Obama thanking him for meeting with his wife and kids.

Last week, President Obama met with Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, and their two children, Rebekka and Jacob, and promised to make Pastor Saeed’s freedom a “top priority,” even telling Jacob that he “will try” to work to get Pastor Saeed home by Jacob’s birthday in March.

Yesterday, Pastor Saeed told a family member in Iran who was able to visit him that President Obama’s willingness to take the time to meet with his wife and kids greatly encouraged him.

He wrote a letter to President Obama expressing his immense gratitude:

Dear Mr. President,

I was personally encouraged that you were in my hometown of Boise, Idaho, and made time to visit my wife and children. They have had a heavy burden to carry in my absence, and your presence helped to relieve some of that burden. Thank you for your fatherly compassion of letting Jacob know that you will try to get me home by his birthday. I know that as a father you can truly understand the pain and anguish of my children living without their father and the burden that is on my wife as a single mother.

I also know how encouraged Christians around the world were to also hear of this meeting. Nothing is more valuable to the body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer.

Thank you again for standing up for my family and me and for thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation. 

God bless you and your family, and God bless America!

Saeed Abedini

Prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great nation of the United States of America that cares for religious freedom across the world.

Rajaee Shahr prison
Karaj, Iran

Pastor Saeed—a U.S. citizen—has been wrongfully imprisoned, separated from his wife and kids, for nearly 2 1/2 years in an Iranian prison because of his Christian faith.

We agree with Pastor Saeed that President Obama’s willingness to meet with his family sends a powerful message about America’s priorities and resolve to defend persecuted Christians.

During his weekly visitation yesterday, Pastor Saeed was allowed to talk and pray with a family member from Iran for about 20 minutes in the Iranian prison.

As Pastor Saeed expressed last week, he continues to suffer from increased pain—the result of injuries sustained from prison beatings. He continues to need medical care.

Now it is time to bring Pastor Saeed home. We will continue working with the Obama Administration, the State Department, the United Nations and world leaders toward Pastor Saeed’s freedom.

Please continue to pray for his release, as we continue working to bring him home to America. Stand with us and urge President Obama to take action on his word and not leave Pastor Saeed behind. Sign our petition for Pastor Saeed’s freedom (below and) at beheardproject.com.