Every now and then a story strikes me as so significant that my sense is we need to discuss and highlight such amidst these postings. The depth of the news deserves our attention. Today is such a day.
Allow me to initially note that this account is very current; that being so, details are evolving daily. I would encourage you to pay attention to those details. Hence, take note of the following name: Saeed Abedini.
Abedini is a 32 year old American citizen. He is originally from Iran. Abedini has a wife and 2 small children. His extended family remains in Iran.
Abedini returns regularly to the Arab country in order to both visit his extended family and oversee a humanitarian effort he began years ago to build an orphanage; he has been arrested multiple times upon his return. What has Abedini been arrested for?
Abedini is a pastor. He is an American Christian pastor. Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity. As we logically wrestle with fact as opposed to rhetoric, know that any Muslim who apostatizes — literally “regresses” — or specifically goes on to at some point, somehow reject the Islamic faith — commits an offense which may be punishable by death. Islamic scholars disagree on this assessment; the reality exists, however, that a sizable number of scholars believe execution is the appropriate consequence. Under Shariah law, a Muslim who converts to Christianity is on par with someone waging war against Islam.
In mid-December without initial notice of any formal charges, Abedini was again imprisoned. As he remained incarcerated, the Iranian government ambiguously charged him with compromising national security, omitting the specifics of the compromising actions. The government also announced the American would go on trial for this offense. According to his attorneys, Abedini is scheduled to appear before an Iranian judge known as the “hanging judge,” a man identified by the European Union in 2011 as an individual actually subject to sanctions for human rights violations. Judge Pir-Abassi has reportedly presided over a number of cases against human rights activists, often handing down long prison sentences and even several death penalties.
One more seemingly significant detail: at the time of this writing, Abedini’s whereabouts are also ambiguous. When his family went to visit him in Iranian prison last Wednesday, they were told he was not there. Then yesterday, they were told he had been moved within the prison yet they were not permitted to see him.
A couple more related notes: Abedini’s family reports that he has been repeatedly interrogated and beaten within prison walls. He has also experienced injury and pain as a result of these beatings and may be in need of medical treatment. His attorney and family seem to know few more specifics.
Allow me one more rather relevant detail…
While the American government often calls for the fair and humane treatment of its citizens — in fact, our government often simply calls for the fair and humane treatment of all people regardless of citizenship — for months the American government has said nothing.
Finally, this week — only after approximately 250,000 online signatures, significant negative publicity, and public appeals by 50 U.S. House Representatives — the U.S. State Department called for Abedini’s release. As Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) stated, “Every U.S. citizen should have the assurance that the U.S. government will come vigorously to their defense in a time of need, especially when they are unjustly tried in a foreign country.” For months, there was not only no vigorous defense; there was no defense.
Why would we allow an innocent man to persevere alone? Did his religion affect our response?
Ensuring that we wrestle with fact as opposed to rhetoric, the Intramuralist can only concerningly, definitely offer, “I don’t know.”
Respectfully,
AR
[Note: This morning, Jan. 27th, Abedini was sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempting to undermine the Iranian government. His attorney was apparently shut out from some of the judicial proceedings. What will now be the response of governments around the world?]