MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Brown (20th), Aldridge, Arnold, Bain, Formby, Gipson, Jennings, Moore, Nelson, Rogers (61st)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DEDICATION OF PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI AS HE ENDURES UNJUSTIFIED IMPRISONMENT IN IRAN FOR FOLLOWING HIS CALLING AS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
WHEREAS, Iranian-born Pastor Saeed Abedini who is a United States citizen is undergoing physical and mental torture in a notoriously brutal Tehran prison after being sentenced to eight years for establishing a network of Christian house churches; and
WHEREAS, since his conviction Pastor Abedini has not been allowed to communicate with his wife and two children who live in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the pastor's Iranian relatives have been allowed to visit him and have expressed concern about his future due to his downtrodden spirit as a result of abuse and brainwashing techniques used by prison officials; and
WHEREAS, although he faces extremely unjust obstacles such as the actions of guards trying to take away his hope by feeding him false information about his fate, Pastor Abedini's Christian faith remains intact; and
WHEREAS, an international campaign for his release is underway according to the American Center for Law and Justice, the organization that is leading the efforts to secure the pastor's release; and
WHEREAS, previous reports indicate that prison officials have refused to deliver medicine and other basic provisions to Pastor Abedini because they consider him unclean due to his Christianity; and
WHEREAS, as of February 8, more than 155,000 people have signed a petition at SaveSaeed.org, asking the United Nations, European Union and Council of Europe to mobilize their resources to require Iran to honor its treaties and its constitution and release the pastor; and
WHEREAS, United States Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham have been enlisted by ACLJ to assist in their efforts and Senator Rubio was instrumental in obtaining a statement from United States Secretary of State John Kerry supporting release of the pastor; and
WHEREAS, Senator Graham has also asked President Obama to intervene in Abedini's release and Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, Bart Millard of MercyMe and other musicians and concerned citizens have also joined the effort; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to express support for such a noble cause as the release of a minister of the gospel facing an unjust imprisonment for offering people hope in a troubled world:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the dedication of Pastor Saeed Abedini in the face of such an unjust imprisonment and express support for all efforts to obtain his release.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Pastor Saeed Abedini, the American Center of Law and Justice and that copies be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.