President Obama met with American
Pastor Saeed Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh, and two young children, Jacob and
Rebekka, in a private meeting in Pastor Saeed’s hometown of Boise, Idaho.
The meeting lasted about 10 minutes, and President
Obama assured Naghmeh that Pastor Saeed’s freedom is a “top priority” for him
and his Administration.
This was the first time that President Obama met or
spoke with Pastor Saeed’s family, and Naghmeh left the meeting with a “renewed
sense of hope.”
As Naghmeh described their meeting:
President Obama came in and shook our hands and
talked to the kids for a moment. Then he sat right in front of me and
started speaking of how much of a priority Saeed's case was and that he was
working on getting Saeed home to our family. He mentioned his first call
several months ago to Iran’s president Rouhani and how Saeed was mentioned in
that call.
He again reiterated that Saeed's case was a “top
priority” and getting him back to the U.S., to our family, was a top priority.
He also said that he meets with Secretary of State Kerry regularly and follows
up on Saeed's case. He also said that Secretary Kerry brings up Saeed every
time he meets with the Iranians.
I told him how appreciative I was that he was
willing to meet with my family and for everything he was doing to bring my
husband home. I told him that I was praying for him and had been praying
for months I would have the opportunity to meet with him. He took my
hand, squeezed it, and smiled. I could tell by the look in his eyes he
cared.
As the meeting ended, I said my son Jacob has
something to say. Jacob said, "Mr. President, can you please bring
daddy home for my birthday?" President Obama asked, "When is your
birthday?" Jacob said March 17th, and the President said he would try very
hard. He smiled, got up, hugged me again, and said goodbye. He shook the
kids hands and left.
Meeting with the President of the United States of
America and seeing how much he cares about Saeed’s case has given me a renewed
sense of hope. I want to thank everyone who has been praying for this
meeting to take place and for my husband’s freedom.
We're grateful that President Obama took the time
to meet with Naghmeh and speak with her and the children.
Pastor Saeed has been wrongly imprisoned for nearly
two and a half years. He has been separated from his wife and children. The
pain experienced by the Abedini family is impossible to imagine.
The meeting between President Obama and the Abedini
family is a very welcomed development. It demonstrates the President's concern
and compassion for this family. It also underscores the importance of Pastor
Saeed's case, a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Iran merely because of his Christian
faith.
The face-to-face meeting elevates Pastor Saeed's
plight on the world stage - and should send a powerful message to the Iranians
- it is time to release Pastor Saeed so he can return home to his family.
Also today, Pastor Saeed’s family in Iran was able
to visit with Pastor Saeed and give him updates about how Naghmeh and his
children are doing.
Like Naghmeh, we are hopeful that President Obama’s
direct involvement in this case will lead to Pastor Saeed’s freedom.
Please continue to pray for Pastor Saeed, his family, and his swift release.
Source:
ACLJ
Here's Naghmeh's own post on her Facebook profile:
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON MY MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT
AND ON SAEED'S FATHER VISITING SAEED IN PRISON:
Thank you all for your prayers! Today was an
amazing day of meeting with the president and also hearing that Saeed's dad got
to visit Saeed in person!
Meeting with the president: I got to meet with
President Obama today! The kids and I were in a small office room with him and
he was gracious with his time (we met for over 10 minutes). I told him that I
had refrained from food for 3 days and prayed and fasted and God had ordained
this meeting. He shook his head and smiled. I told him that the kids and I
prayed for him and loved him (that as Christians that is what we are to do). He
said he needed prayer. He said that getting Saeed out is a top priority and he
is working very hard to get Saeed home back to our family. Jacob then asked
him" Mr. President, can you please bring my daddy home for my
birthday?" President Obama asked Jacob when his birthday was and Jacob
said March 17. and President Obama said "I am going to try very hard
to make that happen Jacob. I am going to try very hard..." Praise God! We
had great conversation. WE made the heart connection that we all had been
praying for and he listed some next steps to take... God was so evidently
present in the meeting. The entire time the president was holding my hand and
reassuring me. At the end he gave me a hug and we took pictures (trying to get
the picture from the white house...will share as soon as I get them).
Saeed being visited in prison by his father-
Saeed's father was able to have an in person visit with Saeed. The first thing
he did was give Saeed a big kiss on the cheek from Jacob. Saeed's dad shared
with Saeed that so many people were praying and supporting him. Saeed was
really encouraged. Saeed's dad shared about Christmas and how the kids were
doing. Saeed wanted to know how big the kids had gotten and stories about the
kids. The most painful part for Saeed is being torn from his family and not
seeing his kids grow up. He continues to have pain and the horrible conditions
of the prison are not helping and are deteriorating his health.