Posted: 01/23/2013 at 6:19pm | IP Logged

American Pastor Jailed in Iran Barred from Trial

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CBN News

Saeed Abedini, the Iranian-American pastor imprisoned in Iran since September for his faith, has been banned from taking part in his trial, according to The American Center for Law and Justice. His Iranian lawyer was barred from the courtroom as well.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, continued to bring testimony against Pastor Abedini before Iran's infamous "hanging judge."

Specifically, the prosecution questioned a lay church leader about Abedini's role in his conversion to Christianity.

Abedini has been charged with undermining national security through his work starting house churches in the Islamic Republic.

Abedini's wife shared more about her husband's imprisonment, on Newswatch, Jan. 23. Click play to watch.

Sign the petition to free American Pastor Saeed in Iran.

"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," Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, said. "We need to continue exposing Iran's violations of Saeed's human rights until my husband is safely back in my arms."

The ACLJ, which has been fighting to secure Abedini's release, called the closed proceedings "a clear and continued blatant violation of human rights."

"The continued lies and demand for more testimony in a month makes it clear that Iran has no intention whatsoever of releasing Pastor Saeed, allowing to him to return to the U.S., or even issuing a verdict any time soon," ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow said.

The ACLJ is petitioning the U.S. State Department to speak out publicly on Saeed's behalf.

Despite expressing concern about the pastor's fate, the Obama administration has yet to take steps to secure his freedom, only providing the following statement to the ACLJ:

"We remain troubled by the case of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini, who was arrested by Iranian officials more than three months ago on charges relating to his religious beliefs," The National Security Council said in a statement. "We call upon Iranian authorities to release him immediately."