Saeed Abedini Shares Letter From Pres. Obama Admiring His 'Unyielding' Christian Faith
Pastor Saeed Abedini is sharing the personal letter he received from President Barack Obama, which is in response to a letter he sent to the White House to thank the president for his efforts to secure his release.
"I received my first letter in my first new address from President Obama. The letter was in answer to my thank you which I had sent him while at the Billy Graham Training Center just after I arrived in the U.S.," Abedini revealed.
"This is an inspiring letter," he added.
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In the letter, dated Feb. 23, Obama noted that he made a vow to do everything possible to see Abedini freed as a hostage imprisoned in Iran.
"I want to personally convey to you how gratified I am that we were finally able to do so," Obama wrote.
"As you know, I was joined by many of our fellow Americans in praying for your freedom. We all now give thanks that you are home. Many will continue to be inspired by your unyielding faith and courage in the face of great adversity," the president added.
Abedini was set free in January after being held hostage for three and a half years in prison in Iran for his Christian faith, where he refused to abandon his faith and held onto his beliefs despite ongoing persecution at the hands of the authorities.
He visited Washington D.C. in February to thank congressmen, and political and religious leaders who prayed and campaigned for his freedom and for religious freedom rights around the world.
"I was very honored today to meet some of our amazing congressmen and senators and warmly shake their hands, and thank them for advocating for me. Moreover, I was so overwhelmed to see the passion and heart for me in their eyes and hear that during their busy lives, they have prayed hours and hours for my release during the last four years," Abedini wrote in a message on Facebook in February.
Abedini has remained grateful for Obama's efforts in the past few years, as the president spoke out for his freedom and held conversations with Iranian leaders calling for the pastor's release.
In the past, Obama had been accused by some, such as the American Center for Law and Justice, of not doing enough to help Abedini's cause.
The ACLJ, which represented Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, and led campaign efforts and petitions for the pastor's release, suggested last year that Obama should reject nuclear dealings with Iran until the Islamic Republic approves its religious freedom record.
"It is unconscionable that the Obama administration would sign a deal with Iran without securing the freedom of pastor Saeed who has been imprisoned for nearly three years simply because of his Christian faith," Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ, said in a statement sent to The Christian Post in January.
"President Obama told the Abedini family face-to-face that he considered the release of pastor Saeed a 'top priority.' How could that be a 'top priority' when a deal is reached and pastor Saeed is left behind?" Sekulow further asked.
