Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran, is “in danger” after having been moved to a dangerous prison where he faces “life-threatening conditions and treatment,” says The American Center for Law and Justice.
The center represents Abedini’s family in the United States.
Abedini was recently moved from Evin Prison to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, which known as one of the worst prisons in the world.
Describing the prison in 2005, Dutch diplomat Loes Bijnen said that being sent there is “severe punishment.”
“Once in there one stops to be a human being. One is put out of sight, even of human rights activists and the press,” he said. “In Rajaï Shahr, political prisoners have to share cells with dangerous criminals like murderers, rapists and drug addicts who don’t hesitate to attack their cell mates. They have nothing to lose: many of them are condemned to death anyway. Murders or unexplained deaths are a regular occurrence.”
The center says that the transfer to the prison “is a deeply disturbing development and can only be viewed as a move that puts Pastor Saeed’s life directly at risk.”
Abedini was imprisoned because of his Christian faith. He’s not being allowed any visitors at the Rajai Shahr Prison.
“The news of Saeed’s transfer to this prison is most difficult to bear,” his wife Naghmeh said in a statement. “I am devastated and I do not know what to tell my children. I am more concerned now about his safety than at any other time during his imprisonment. I can only imagine the torment and anguish he is experiencing.”
President Barack Obama called for the release of Abedini in a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in September, reported Fox.
Now the center is calling on Obama to take immediate action to save the life of Abedini.
The group is asking members of the public to sign this petition. It has over 165,000 signatures so far.
