A U.S. congressman says Americans need to both pray and act for the release and safety of an American pastor being held in Iran.
The Iran-based Human Rights Activist News Agency reports that American Pastor Saeed Abedini has been moved to the infamous Ward 3, Hall 9, in the notorious Rajai Shahr prison.
Ward 3, Hall 9, is where the Iranian human rights group says the homicidal and criminally insane inmates are housed in that section of the prison.
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., an advocate for persecuted Christians, says Americans need to be actively involved in seeking Pastor Abedini's release.
"Are people praying for Pastor Abedini? Are they sending letters to the president asking for his release?" Wolf asks. "Prayer, write, contact President Obama and contact Secretary [of State John] Kerry.
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"This is a time that the American people have an obligation to speak out and urge the Obama Administration to be more forceful in their advocacy," Wolf asserts.
Wolf also says his congressional committee has advocated on behalf of Pastor Abedini.
"We've had hearings on Pastor Abedini. The administration has been very weak on Pastor Abedini," Wolf states. "Everyone who is concerned for human rights ought to be contacting President Obama and Secretary Kerry asking them to publicly begin advocating for Pastor Abedini."
Wolf says that the pastor's present location makes intervention more urgent.
"Pastor Abedini has been moved to a more dangerous prison, and this administration has the worst record on human rights and religious freedom since I've been serving in Congress for 33 years," Wolf says.
"The Administration is in Geneva now talking about some kind of nuclear arms agreement," Wolf says. "This ought to be a priority to have Pastor Abedini released."
American Center for Law and Justice spokesman Gene Kapp confirms that Pastor Abedini is in Ward 3.
In a press statement the ACLJ confirmed that Pastor Abedini's Iranian relatives were allowed to visit.
"This is a positive sign that international pressure continues to work to keep Pastor Saeed alive," the statement said.
The visits are a recent development.
"Pastor Saeed's Iranian family has, for the past two weeks since his transfer, been prevented from visiting him – something they had previously been permitted to do once a week during his imprisonment in Evin Prison," the statement said.
"It is also the first physical confirmation of Pastor Saeed's condition and life since his transfer to the brutal prison," the statement said.