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American pastor imprisoned while visiting family in Iran

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  • Description

    Wife of jailed reverend speaks out

  • Duration 5:39
  • Date

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A lot of back to Hannity 832 year old American pastor the reverend site -- -- a -- has been obtained a detained by one of brand's most notorious prison since late September for charges.

That -- not -- -- made public other than the fact that he is a convert Christian now.

The -- was born in Iran he was granted US citizenship in 2010 after marrying an American woman since then.

His travel back to Iran to visit family multiple times but -- often they questioned by police for his Christian work throughout the country.

Now he's being held physically and emotionally abused and could face a lengthy prison term.

Or possibly even the death penalty.

-- the American set -- along justice has gotten involved in the hopes of having him released so where's the Obama administration -- the UN where's the State Department.

Joining me now to share that story is the wife of the reverend.

-- -- but -- and from the American Center for Law and Justice.

-- may let -- let me start with you this is obviously he's gone back and forth here.

Had little problems but not big problems what happened in this case that was different.

I believe that this time.

The revolutionary.

Guard him.

Has been handling place case and them.

Previously that intelligence police was.

And I believe that.

-- change from that intelligence police to the revolutionary guard.

Has changed the way they've been treating Christians and mission activities and I ran.

Right.

Well -- not very different from what we see happening Coptic Christians are being persecuted in Egypt.

A lot of Christians in the Muslim world this is not uncommon it's happening more more as a matter of fact as we see the rise of radicalism.

What have you found on this particular case -- you have access to him.

Well David is lawyers have been denied access to him actually and I ran in and the real troubling things or peripheral we're talking about a US citizen and showing you mentioned early on that we did not -- State Department.

Help right now we are now this the first time this is going public -- the story came out today Lisa safari posted on foxnews.com.

She's a Fox News contributor and been working with -- burns from our office.

What we've got right now -- -- -- situation not alike Yousef and -- Connie who was eventually released.

And it's gonna take international pressure his crime in the crimes that are being alleged here -- of course are not public they have not indicted.

But it's because he's a Christian and may have been cracked down as you said these Islamic -- Have continued to crack down whether it's and I ran -- in Egypt Coptic Christians are needed to -- -- awful time.

But in this particular case we've got the unique situation that we have a US citizen and we've got a US citizen that's being detained in a horrible facility jail.

-- I ran it and we've got to do everything we can globally to get him released because right now -- The situation is grave for anybody put in the situation but again got a US citizen who is being not only penalized but held.

Not only against his will begin -- don't know what's happening to -- -- -- that your talking to right now and family.

Are missing their husband it is Christmas this in the administration our administration -- administration needs to come out publicly.

They can do it through various sources that deal directly with irate and we are asking governments that deal with -- -- to do just that.

-- when's the last time you spoken to your husband.

Actually.

It was and this will add this morning by some -- call he called his family's house and I ran.

And they were able to call from another cell phone and we got to speak through phone to phone and he was desperately wanting to hear.

I kits voice yet -- -- and he got to go ahead and what it would at least say was he able to talk -- -- -- be monitored.

Yes he was you know he's been hoping for the last few months to at least try to get out on -- he's.

Gone through some harsh treatments there and he had me put the -- on my daughter's.

Ears and he she was half asleep it was 5 in the morning again he told her.

I daddy loves you and -- she'd been wondering for her.

Weeks and weeks if he'd grown a beard and she'd miss hearing his voice she said mommy am forgetting daddy's boys how do you know and the honey got to use a -- -- And he got -- he got to say daddy loves you and I do you have appeared it's -- out pretty Bennett felt.

He got -- it and talked -- and he was pretty happy about that it was only lasted a few minutes.

How do you know he's being abused besides the fact that he's being held against his -- persecuted for religious reasons.

Pit and fifth when.

We've had a few phone to phones and few weeks ago he told -- -- -- -- There's -- prisoners.

Hurting him and there was this couple -- -- -- interrogators the second round.

Had hit them and had had am physically.

Abuse them and so he mentioned that.

Now at.

There's no -- -- Jones owns us down.

-- you work so it's that lives and is one of the worst in Iran yet it's bad and we've got to like it's a global pressure and I appreciate you bringing this -- light tonight because it's gonna take global pressure to get this pastor released this US citizen.

-- should also say release from an Iranian jail.

So -- continue to monitor it and I hoping at home.

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