Tipsheet

American Pastor Jailed in Iran Facing Death Threats From ISIS

American pastor Saeed Abedini has been languishing in a notoriously brutal Iranian prison for 690 days. Jailed for sharing his Christian faith, Abedini has been subjected to physical and psychological abuse during the first leg of his eight-year sentence. To make matters worse, ISIS militants in the prison are now threatening to kill him.

The ACLJ reports:

ISIS militants imprisoned in the same ward of Rajai Shahr prison as Pastor Saeed have communicated through other prisoners that they will kill him because of his Christian faith.

Pastor Saeed told family members this week that he fears for his life after these terrorists said they would murder him.

Though the ISIS terrorists are held in a separate section of the prison ward, they have on several occasions made their way by Pastor Saeed’s section on their way back from the prison yard, forcing Pastor Saeed to hide.

Pastor Saeed could also come face-to-face with these violent terrorists in the prison yard during the prisoners’ one-hour exercise period outdoors. Pastor Saeed has been forced to remain in his cell and refuse to use his allotted time in the prison yard.

Not only have ISIS militants from Iraq made these new death threats against Pastor Saeed, al Qaeda terrorists imprisoned there have also threatened his life.

On past occasions, al Qaeda members have attempted to attack Pastor Saeed in the prison yard, saved only by other prisoners from his section who placed themselves between Pastor Saeed and the extremists. […]

Killing Pastor Saeed within Iran, which has publicly opposed ISIS, would provide a monumental victory for these murderous terrorists.

Next month, on September 26, Abedini will have been in prison for two years. On that day, people will gather in cities around the world to participate in a prayer vigil for the pastor and all those who are being persecuted for their faith.