{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362418", "Smith a Leader in Effort Calling on Iranian Gov\u2019t to Free American Pastor", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today led an effort in the House Foreign Affairs committee calling on the Government of Iran to release a U.S. citizen, Pastor Saeed Abedini, or face additional sanctions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By unanimously consent, the full committee accepted Smith\u2019s amendment to broaden and revise pending legislation, H.Res. 147, introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy back in April.\u00a0 The updated provisions, which Cassidy supports, reflect new and more serious dangers the unjustly imprisoned pastor faces and help ready the bill for consideration by the full House of Representatives. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPastor Abedini has endured beatings, psychological torture and worse because he will not deny his Christian faith,\u201d said Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Smith noted with alarm that Abedini was recently transferred from a prison for political and non-violent inmates to a notorious prison housing hardened criminals, including murderers and rapists.\u00a0 \u201cHe is now in a prison where we are very fearful for his life.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The resolution which calls for the release of Abedini, an Iranian-American and resident of Idaho who has been imprisoned for more than a year, also calls on the United States Government to work aggressively for the quick release of Abedini by designating additional Iranian officials, as appropriate, for human rights abuses pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith quoted extensively from testimony given by the pastor\u2019s wife, Naghmeh Abedini, also an America Citizen, at a March 2013 hearing in which she stated their two American-born children, ages 6 and 4, are deeply hurting from their father\u2019s imprisonment: \u201cA day does not go by that they do not long for him. Most nights they cry themselves to sleep, wanting daddy home\u2026\u00a0 it is unfortunate that Christians are the number one persecuted people in the world, but not much attention and effort is taken to protect their religious liberty\u2026 because of his love for the Iranian people, including the least of these\u2014the orphans and the widows\u2014Saeed sought new ways to serve the people of Iran.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith noted that Naghmeh had testified in March that she was disappointed that the U.S. government was not doing more to help her husband. \u201cI must tell you that I am disappointed in my government. I am disappointed that our President and our State Department have not fully engaged this case\u2014disappointed that this great country is not doing more to free my husband, a U.S. citizen. Yes, we are both proud to be American citizens. And I expect more from our government.\u201d Smith said the State Department must keep up the pressure to release Abedini. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pastor Abedini, an American citizen, went to Iran in 2012, on a routine humanitarian mission to complete an orphanage for Iranian children. Pastor Abedini had previously been arrested in Iran, but released and allowed to enter and exit the country for humanitarian aid work if he agreed to cease pastoring house churches. Pastor Abedini upheld his end of but bargain, but was suddenly arrested in September 2012\u2014and put on trial for sharing his religious beliefs and allegedly undermining the security of Iran. During the non-public trial, he and his attorney were barred from participating in key portions of the proceedings\u2014following which a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison. Pastor Abedini\u2019s appeals have been denied.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The resolution also calls on the Government of Iran, including the Ayatollah Ali Khameini in particular, to act consistently with their word and commitments. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Government of Iran\u2019s actions toward Pastor Abedini violates its promise of safe passage to him in his humanitarian work,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBut it also violates Iran\u2019s official international commitment to respect religious freedom and due process of law, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights-- when Iran signs something, Iran should live up to it.\u201d \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362418"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7444510702043772, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}