California

Southern California Churches Join Nationwide Vigils for Imprisoned Pastor

Saeed Abedini was sentenced to eight years in prison while spreading faith in Iran

A group from a Riverside County parish will be among dozens across the country taking part Friday in a prayer vigil for a pastor imprisoned in Iran two years ago.

The Southern California gathering is expected at the Trinity Baptist Church in Indio, Hosanna City Church in Palm Springs and City Hall in Cathedral City at 6 p.m. to hold vigils for the release of Saeed Abedini, said Stephanie Schenfeld, a community organizer.

"One man is being persecuted in the name of Jesus Christ," Schenfeld said. "That calls all of us out to what we’re doing."

Abedini is an Iranian-born American citizen from Idaho, who while trying to start a network of home churches there, was taken into captivity two years ago on Sept. 26, 2012 and sentenced to eight years in prison, according to the Be Heard Project.

The project is spearheaded by Abedini's wife, Naghmeh Abedini, who has spoken out about her husband's situation and pushed lawmakers in Washington to bring attention to the cause.

"For nearly a year, the Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to silence my husband," she said at a United Nations Council meeting last June. "I hope to ... put a face to those who suffer when a government does not uphold its obligations to protect these freedoms."

The Southern California congregations plan to join in the national cause because it is a matter of religious liberty, Schenfeld said.

Local

Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.

Everything you need to know about the Dodgers Opening Week at Chavez Ravine

California's commercial Dungeness crab season will end April 8 to protect whales

Secretary of State John Kerry has called for Abedini’s release, and then-White House spokesman Josh Earnest said last year that President Obama has raised the case, as well as those of other American citizens held in captivity, during conversations with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

An online petition calling for his release currently has almost 290,000 signatures.

Hundreds of other locations in the U.S. and around the globe have scheduled vigils to mark the two-year anniversary, including more than 60 in California.

Contact Us