Developing Story
Christian missionary from Boise held captive in Iran
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Jennifer Auh reports on Christian man from Boise held captive in Iran. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com
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A pastor from Boise is being held in Iran without charge. He has been imprisoned, since September in the notoriously brutal Evin Prison.
Members of the Calvary Chapel Church in Boise confirmed that Reverend Saeed Abedini attends services at their church.
We talked exclusively with the Senior Pastor Bob Caldwell. He told us the reverend was born in Iran, but is now a U.S. citizen and has lived in Boise with his family for many years now.
FOX News reports Abedini is being held captive for his work as a Christian missionary in Iran. He traveled to the Middle East this summer to continue humanitarian efforts and help build an orphanage.
On Wednesday, his wife appeared on FOX news, talking about the last time she spoke to her husband. "He's gone through some harsh treatments there. He had me put the phone to my daughter's ears. He told her daddy loves you," said Naghmeh Abedini.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Calvary Chapel Church are asking everyone in our community to pray for Abedini and his family.
"I think it’s best for us to pray,” said Caldwell, “We really hope he can be freed, because we don't see that he's committed any crime against this country, accept that he believes."
According to FOX News, Abedini is the leader of a house church movement in Iran, a community of underground places of worship for former Muslims, who convert to Christianity and are not allowed to formally pray in recognized churches.
Abedini's home church movement had about 100 churches in 30 Iranian cities with more than 2,000 members. All religious minorities in Iran, including Jews and Christians, face persecution.
As a convert away from Islam, worshippers are not permitted to attend services at official churches, so underground house churches have become a popular way to get around the restriction.
Everyone is encouraged to show their support for Abedini in any way they can. There is also a Facebook page set up for him called pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini. Here is the link: facebook.com/PrayForPastorSaeedAbedini
Stay with Today’s 6 and FOX 9 On Your Side for the latest on this developing story.
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