Reports emerged from Iran that an imprisoned Christian pastor is being tortured in jail, and could face more charges as Christians prayed on 26 September, marking the third anniversary of the imprisonment of Saeed Abedini.
The US-Iranian pastor is serving an eight-year sentence for his involvement in Iran’s house church movement. Pastor Saeed, who comes from a Muslim background, is credited with establishing scores of house churches in cities across Iran.
Electric shock guns
Naghmeh Abedini was able to visit her husband in prison near Karaj and she reported that intelligence officers repeatedly used taser electric shock guns on Saeed and that he is in need of medical treatment.
Saeed has been charged with ‘undermining national security’. His interrogators have told him he could face new charges, alleging he has connections with groups opposed to the government. These are claims that Saeed denies.
Saeed, a former Muslim, has been physically abused in jail by guards and fellow inmates. Medical staff have withheld treatment from him because, as an ‘infidel’, he is considered to be unclean. And the pastor has been threatened with death by prisoners who are members of Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
Pastor Saeed has been promised his freedom if he recants his faith.
