Deny Christ or Remain Behind Bars: American Pastor Imprisoned in Iran Standing Firm Despite Threats

An American pastor imprisoned in Iran is reportedly being threatened that he will not be freed from prison until he denies his faith in Christ and returns to Islam.



As previously reported, Saeed Abedini, a former Iranian Muslim turned Christian, left Iran in 2005 and moved to the United States with his wife and two children to find religious freedom after facing conflict with authorities for planting house churches in the county. In 2012, he traveled back to Iran to build an orphanage and visit his parents—and was about to return to the states—when he was taken into custody.

Abedini was later charged with threatening the national security of Iran, and for attempting to turn youth in the nation away from Islam and toward Christianity. He was then sentenced to eight years in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, where he has spent the past two years behind bars.

In November 2013, Abedini was transported to Rajai Shahr Prison, which was believed to pose an even greater threat to Abedini’s health and safety. Last May, while obtaining treatment at a local hospital for injuries sustained from beatings, he was likewise beaten and returned to prison.

Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh, requested a face-to-face meeting with Barack Obama in January as he was scheduled to speak at an area university. She later told reporters that Obama advised her that “getting Saeed out is a top priority and he is working very hard to get Saeed home back to our family.”

But Abedini stated this week that her husband’s situation is still very serious as guards continue to pressure him to deny Christ and return to Islam.
“He has been under a lot of pressure and attack from the hardliners,” she stated in an update released by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). “The guards have also been threatening Saeed that he will never go free and additional charges (and years) will be added to his sentence (which they have done to other Christians and fellow inmates).”


“They continually threaten Saeed that the only key to his freedom is denying Christ and returning to Islam,” Abedini continued. “Saeed refuses to deny Christ and continues to be a light and witness in that dark prison.”
She asked that Christians continue to pray for her husband.

“These threats coupled with the fact that there have been mass executions during the last week in … prison, have really taken their toll on Saeed,” Abedini said. “He asks for prayer for continued strength.”
The ACLJ urges Christians to also continue to speak out on Abedini’s behalf.

“[A]s fellow U.S. citizens, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we must not be silent,” Executive Director Jordan Sekulow states. “Our government must do everything in its power to bring Pastor Saeed home. It is absolutely critical that the Obama administration and the State Department continue to demand that our innocent citizens—especially Pastor Saeed who is suffering only because of his religious beliefs—be returned home.”
The U.S. will be involved with nuclear negotiations with Iran on April 21.

SOURCE: http://christiannews.net/2015/04/17/deny-christ-or-remain-behind-bars-american-pastor-imprisoned-in-iran-standing-firm-despite-threats/

How can he deny his creator

I tire for dis guys sef, na by force.

islam , a religion of.............







complete it @ ur own peril

Let us remember this pastor in our prayers and use him as a point of contact to numerous number of Christ followers worldwide facing one challenge or trial or any unjust treatment because of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

[size=20pt]I DON'T KNOW WHERE PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS NOW A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. [/size]

The God of Old still lives and he is more than able to deliver him and others from the hands of the antichrists and even if he dies in this prison, all the glory will be returned to the Lord God Almighty who is faithful even till eternity.

( For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain )

waaat!!!! Thats inhuman....must you force someone to join your religion? Hmmmm muslims sha.....author of every religious violence..

Meanwhile UNN aspirants see this
www.nairaland.com/2262715/official-whatsapp-group-unn-aspirants

UNN aspirants only......

rawpadgin:
islam , a religion of.............







complete it @ ur own peril

A religion of peace .

nifemi25:




A religion of peace .

obviously

dulux07:
I tire for dis guys sef, na by force.

It is getting too much

Jesus never forget his own. He won't forget you, amen

nerodenero:
Jesus never forget his own. He won't forget you, amen

Amen

Qur'an (8:39) - “And fight them
until there is no more Fitnah
(disbelief and polytheism: i.e.
worshipping others besides Allah)
and the religion (worship) will all
be for Allah Alone [in the whole
of the world ]. But if they cease
(worshipping others besides
Allah), then certainly, Allah is
All-Seer of what they do.”

Qur'an (3:83) - "Are they seeking
a religion other than Allah's,
when every soul in the heavens
and the earth has sub mitted to
Him, willingly or by
COMPULSION?" So much for the
earlier verse (2:256) stating that
there is "no compulsion in
religion".

Sahih Muslim (1:33) The
Messenger of Allah said: "I have
been commanded to fight against
people till they testify that there
is no god but Allah, that
Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah, and they establish prayer
and pay zakat." The first part of
this condition is the Shahada, or
profession of faith in Islam.
Violence is sanctioned until the
victims embrace Muhammad's
religion.

Bukhari (59:643) - "Testify that
none has the right to be
worshipped except Allah, or else I
will chop off your neck!"

ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE!

Father in Heaven, deliver this pastor and put all the antichrists to shame and ridicule

The problem in this world is Religion. Nothing more and nothing less

dodoniyi:
Father in Heaven, deliver this pastor and put all the antichrists to shame and ridicule

Amen, as Peter was miraculously delivered from prison, so shall he be delivered in Jesus name.

Preaching any religion is a potential threat to civility and by virtue, national security.

Religion is a divisive tool meant to restrict the intellect and divert resources to those at the top of the various religious hierarchies.

mmsen:
Preaching any religion is a potential threat to civility and by virtue, national security.

Religion is a divisive tool meant to restrict the intellect and divert resources to those at the top of the various religious hierarchies.

Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the true God.

truthman2012:


Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with the true God.

Most religions make the same baseless claim.

They leave out the part that says that they all claim to be the sole route to their god(s).

Where r those blood thirsty vamires who claim Jehovah is the same God as Allah? If they r the same, didn't they say they believe in Jesus? Why shd he deny the same Isa they believe in? Satan and his Apostles. They shd go ahead and fulfil Gods prophecies.

mmsen:


Most religions make the same baseless claim.

They leave out the part that says that they all claim to be the sole route to their god(s).

That you don't believe there is the true God does not change His existence. You are free to believe anything you want but don't go about killing people of other faith like the muslims.

Muhammad killed thousands of Christians and also inspired muslims to do the same. To you, nothing is wrong with that and they should be left to continue, eh?

truthman2012:


That you don't believe there is the true God does not change His existence. You are free to believe anything you want but don't go about killing people of other faith like the muslims.

Muhammad killed thousands of Christians and also inspired muslims to do the same. To you, nothing is wrong with that and they should be left to continue, eh?

They are all equally wrong.

That is my point.

Using violence is evil but so is using other means to push people into accepting a fallacy.

Christians may not be as prone to using violence today but they have done so for much of their history.

so what was actually his offence,is he the only pagan 'xtian' in iran

Isn't it ironic that xtian posters here sympatize with this man rather than rejoice at his "tribulations" which the bible says are tests the followers of christ should not only expect but welcome? How different is this guy's ordeal from the likes of Paul,Silas,Stephen who was stoned to death,etc?

Perhaps these "tests of faith" don't apply to modern day xtains after all it's "not their portion" as they always say.

THIS IS VERY BAD

OAM4J, emusmith lalasticlala

chymystique:
I believe there should be freedom of worship as long as it doesn't bring harm to people... This is Unfair and an Abuse to Human Rights

VERY TRUE