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Saeed Abedini
Saeed Abedini (Persian: سعيد عابدينی, born 7 May 1980) is an Iranian American Christian pastor who was imprisoned in Iran in 2012 based on allegations that he compromised national security. During his imprisonment, Abedini became internationally known as a victim of religious persecution. Following international pressure, along with other American prisoners, Abedini was released from prison on 16 January 2016.
After his release, Abedini and his wife, Naghmeh, divorced. She has accused him of years of domestic abuse. He has denied all allegations against him.
Born in Iran, Abedini is a former Shia Muslim who converted to Christianity in 2000. While Christianity is recognized as a minority religion under the Iranian constitution, Shiʿite converts to Christianity suffer discrimination at the hands of Iranian authorities. In particular, such converts are disallowed from worshiping with other Christians in established Christian churches, which has led to the establishment of so-called "house" or "underground" churches where these converts can worship together.
In the early 2000s, Abedini and his wife Naghmeh became prominent in the house-church movement in Iran when the Iranian government tolerated the movement. During this period, Abedini is credited with establishing about 100 house churches in 30 Iranian cities with more than 2,000 members. With the election of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in 2005, however, the house-church movement was subjected to a crackdown by Iranian authorities and the Abedinis moved back to the United States.
In 2008, Abedini became an ordained minister in the U.S. In 2010, he was granted American citizenship, thus becoming a dual Iranian-American citizen. Abedini lived with his family in Boise, Idaho, where his wife grew up.
Abedini's first trip back to Iran was in 2009 to visit his extended family, when government authorities detained him. According to Abedini, he was threatened with death during his interrogation over his conversion to Christianity. Ultimately, he was released after signing a pledge to cease all house-church activities in the country. As part of this same agreement, Abedini was permitted to return to Iran freely to work on non-sectarian humanitarian efforts.
In July 2012, after making his ninth trip to Iran since 2009 to visit his relatives and continue to build an orphanage in the city of Rasht, Abedini was placed under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; his passports were confiscated. He was transferred to Evin Prison in late September.
In mid-January 2013, it was reported that Abedini would go on trial on 21 January and could face the death penalty. He was charged with compromising national security, though the specific allegations were not made public. His supporters said his arrest was due to his conversion and attending peaceful Christianity gatherings in Iran. On 21 January 2013, Iranian state media reported that Abedini would be released after posting a $116,000 bond. His wife, however, stated that the government "has no intention of freeing him and that the announcement is 'a game to silence' international media reports."
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Saeed Abedini
Saeed Abedini (Persian: سعيد عابدينی, born 7 May 1980) is an Iranian American Christian pastor who was imprisoned in Iran in 2012 based on allegations that he compromised national security. During his imprisonment, Abedini became internationally known as a victim of religious persecution. Following international pressure, along with other American prisoners, Abedini was released from prison on 16 January 2016.
After his release, Abedini and his wife, Naghmeh, divorced. She has accused him of years of domestic abuse. He has denied all allegations against him.
Born in Iran, Abedini is a former Shia Muslim who converted to Christianity in 2000. While Christianity is recognized as a minority religion under the Iranian constitution, Shiʿite converts to Christianity suffer discrimination at the hands of Iranian authorities. In particular, such converts are disallowed from worshiping with other Christians in established Christian churches, which has led to the establishment of so-called "house" or "underground" churches where these converts can worship together.
In the early 2000s, Abedini and his wife Naghmeh became prominent in the house-church movement in Iran when the Iranian government tolerated the movement. During this period, Abedini is credited with establishing about 100 house churches in 30 Iranian cities with more than 2,000 members. With the election of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in 2005, however, the house-church movement was subjected to a crackdown by Iranian authorities and the Abedinis moved back to the United States.
In 2008, Abedini became an ordained minister in the U.S. In 2010, he was granted American citizenship, thus becoming a dual Iranian-American citizen. Abedini lived with his family in Boise, Idaho, where his wife grew up.
Abedini's first trip back to Iran was in 2009 to visit his extended family, when government authorities detained him. According to Abedini, he was threatened with death during his interrogation over his conversion to Christianity. Ultimately, he was released after signing a pledge to cease all house-church activities in the country. As part of this same agreement, Abedini was permitted to return to Iran freely to work on non-sectarian humanitarian efforts.
In July 2012, after making his ninth trip to Iran since 2009 to visit his relatives and continue to build an orphanage in the city of Rasht, Abedini was placed under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; his passports were confiscated. He was transferred to Evin Prison in late September.
In mid-January 2013, it was reported that Abedini would go on trial on 21 January and could face the death penalty. He was charged with compromising national security, though the specific allegations were not made public. His supporters said his arrest was due to his conversion and attending peaceful Christianity gatherings in Iran. On 21 January 2013, Iranian state media reported that Abedini would be released after posting a $116,000 bond. His wife, however, stated that the government "has no intention of freeing him and that the announcement is 'a game to silence' international media reports."
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