Update: American Pastor Shut Out of His Own Trial in Iran

Aimee Herd : Jan 25, 2013
Stoyan Zaimov – Christian Post

Continue to pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini's release from Evin prison in Iran.

(Iran)—According to a news report from the Christian Post, and press release from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the trial of American pastor, Saeed Abedini—taking place in Iran—is "a sham."

On Tuesday, Abedini was not even allowed to attend the proceedings, as the ACLJ's Jay Sekulow explained, Pastor Saeed was "Not permitted to attend his own trial. We have been told that the court summoned other pastors to testify today. We do not yet know what was said in court, but we do know that the Iranian government often uses threats and intimidation to get the testimony it wants." (Photo: American Center for Law and Justice)

The American pastor was arrested in September of last year as he worked to establish orphanages in the land where he was born. The trial, however, is not about orphanages, but seems to be based around accusations that Saeed tried to convert Islamic youth to Christianity back in 2000. That "crime" in Iran is punishable by "long term imprisonment" or even death.

"Saeed told me during one of our conversations, he suspected the regime planned to hold him in prison for a long time. This testimony today is further proof that Iran was just trying to silence the media and has no intention of releasing my husband anytime soon," noted Mrs. Abedini.

So far, at least 180,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Pastor Saeed's release.