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Lisa Daftari explains how the pastor's family should be doing more to free Saeed Abedini.
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-- friends family and supporters of -- -- of the -- are closely monitoring his trial.
The Iranian born American pastor is being held in Iran -- bit.
Supporters now questioned why the Americans -- State Department is doing very little to help his cause.
Joining me from Los Angeles with the latest developments is -- of retirees of Middle East expert and foxnews.com.
Contributor welcome Lisa it.
Thank you well Bristol what is the latest on it obsolete in the trial started and -- Monday where we now.
Child started Monday that was the only -- that the pastor and his attorney were allowed to actually be in the courtroom to present there.
Defense they were shut out of the case.
After that and that's the last we know and that's the last that we've heard of him he has -- weekly phone call to his family on Wednesdays and every other Thursday they're allowed to go see him this week there was no communication from the pastor.
So his family and actually was very concerned they went.
To see him on Thursday.
And they were told that he is not there so they they believe that he's missing and that was -- request from his attorney on the first day on Monday.
-- the trial to love and change his cell so that he can receive better medical attention he's been tortured even be in any requires.
-- more detailed medical.
Attention at this point so they still have no confirmation or -- given any notification that that request to.
Change his -- was actually granted.
There -- just told to come back.
Months after the weekend Q can -- his whereabouts -- for the families.
Extremely extremely way to about him.
All throughout and especially.
This week.
The real we have an interview portion of an interview with the pastor's wife not have a Dini.
Take a listen to this.
We just that we don't know where he has has found me I would.
Is usually able to visit him every other Thursday that's his.
Normal visitation time and the prison and he was not.
There and they Garth could not tell them where he went.
That was on America's Newsroom this morning.
The pastor's wife talking about this -- you mentioned this is very very disturbing.
About how he was not allowed to attend his own trial of a second day.
He wasn't allowed Anna's attorney was not -- why is that we know.
We don't know that these -- the games that be running regime plays particularly in cases like this when they create.
The evidence they create the case and they will.
Perhaps come up with a verdict and maybe not another game that they played it directly after his first day of trial on Monday that they spread the rumor that he would be freed.
On bail and this actually spread the -- he picked it up and -- American and -- sources picked it up but what you know that -- actual truth is that the only wanted.
The media attention to die down on this case as we know from the past we had used that not a -- and other Ronnie -- -- -- help and and then later released after three years.
The media attention works.
That's why you have the family and then and many are outraged the State Department isn't doing more to releasing at this time.
There hasn't been a formal statement by Hillary Clinton or anyone from the State Department.
-- mean he'll let these things work.
We actually have a say we have the power to make a difference in this case.
And he is an American after all his wife and kids are here in America.
There waiting for him to come home and there actually really -- and I think the Foreman is not doing more to bring back one.
Of our own now the -- Security Council has spoken out and it didn't say we remain troubled by the case of -- -- But US -- -- you have a Dini who was arrested by Iranian officials more than three months ago.
I'm charges relating to his religious beliefs this is the -- as he -- I mean it does just do anything when it into the National Security Council says something.
Right so then -- assume -- it's great that they -- come out with a statement but they're not the State Department right and that's going to be the bottom line here it's gonna take that.
Caliber.
A -- of of of aggression and that caliber of really focus on this case you know the -- -- -- great job.
On the Fox News obviously carrying the story and it's -- them.
Coming up with all -- updates and keeping everyone informed and keeping the spotlight on the story to the fact that the government doesn't want but is what works and now hopefully we'll get a statement from the State Department soon.
-- we assume that he's being held because he converted from Islam but what are the actual charges against him any -- -- right.
So he was he has been -- since September are not back when he wasn't given any notification of what the charges work.
He's been held the entire time but no notification of the charges.
On Monday the prosecutor informed -- that he's being held on.
Charges and endangering national security because he once was the part.
-- expanding the home church network.
In Iran and -- also charge of brainwashing the youth basically.
Charged with.
Converting people from Islam to christianity again they are Christians in Iran and they are allowed to practice but they're the ones who are the Syrian army and -- born.
Christian it's the one that converted from Islam.
Where they have a problem.
With the government that's why they have to -- and these home churches that they have to.
Pray underground because they can't go to a normal.
You know accepted.
Tricks and the government is actually creating the problem here -- you can't pray you know formally you have to do this underground and that's why -- the part of this.
Home church -- but again that was in 2000 he came under government scrutiny.
Well since 2009 he had an arrangement with the government here and that's something that have to really be made clear here -- -- an arrangement to go in comments he please.
Because he has family in Iran.
And the only you know deal that he made -- the government with that he would not participate in his home church activities when he wasn't -- -- and he -- His end of the deal he was back there building an orphanage with his family they have a plot of -- he was getting all the -- they have been having everything approved.
So he kept his end of the deal but unfortunately they have not better and real quickly does he face the death penalty for these charges.
He could he absolutely could and that's why this the very grave matter.
-- now I -- thank you very much Lisa dot -- you didn't check out her article on foxnews.com.
She is a foxnews.com contributor.
And she can give you all the updates that -- regularly updates.
On what's happening with John pastor.
It's made up -- thank you very much Lisa for for coming on the -- at present our.
