On Monday, the United Nations Human Rights Council held meetings that directly addressed the human rights crisis in Iran.
Before the meeting, the ACLJ launched a petition calling for international intervention on Pastor Saeed’s behalf, and more than 425,000 people from the U.S. and across the world signed in the weeks leading up the meetings.
The international community responded.
The Report of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran mentioned Pastor Saeed by name.
The Council permitted our ACLJ affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice, to address the Council on Pastor Saeed’s behalf twice.
Australia spoke out for Pastor Saeed.
Critically, the European Union – representing collectively the largest economic entity in the world -- called for Pastor Saeed’s release by name:
"We deplore the systematic harassment of members of religious minorities. We call on the Iranian authorities to refrain from such practices and to ensure respect for freedom of religion and belief. We call for the immediate release of prisoners of conscience, including Pastors Behnam Irani, Farshid Fathi and Saeed Abadini and the leaders of the Baha ́i community."
Roughly five minutes after the EU presentation – after a strong international statement on behalf of a U.S. citizen – it was the U.S. representative’s turn at the microphone. Here is what the United States said about its imprisoned and tortured citizen, Pastor Saeed. I quote in full:
. . .
Nothing.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/03/15/why-has-obama-state-department-left-american-pastor-behind-in-iran/#ixzz2NcSGh3eW
Before the meeting, the ACLJ launched a petition calling for international intervention on Pastor Saeed’s behalf, and more than 425,000 people from the U.S. and across the world signed in the weeks leading up the meetings.
The international community responded.
The Report of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran mentioned Pastor Saeed by name.
The Council permitted our ACLJ affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice, to address the Council on Pastor Saeed’s behalf twice.
Australia spoke out for Pastor Saeed.
Critically, the European Union – representing collectively the largest economic entity in the world -- called for Pastor Saeed’s release by name:
"We deplore the systematic harassment of members of religious minorities. We call on the Iranian authorities to refrain from such practices and to ensure respect for freedom of religion and belief. We call for the immediate release of prisoners of conscience, including Pastors Behnam Irani, Farshid Fathi and Saeed Abadini and the leaders of the Baha ́i community."
Roughly five minutes after the EU presentation – after a strong international statement on behalf of a U.S. citizen – it was the U.S. representative’s turn at the microphone. Here is what the United States said about its imprisoned and tortured citizen, Pastor Saeed. I quote in full:
. . .
Nothing.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/03/15/why-has-obama-state-department-left-american-pastor-behind-in-iran/#ixzz2NcSGh3eW
