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US pastor jailed in Iran being tortured and abused?

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    Man described as fearful, apprehensive

  • Duration 4:18
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Credit concerns -- -- American pastor sentenced to eight years in a notoriously tough Iranian prison.

Pastors side -- out the duties families says that he's being tortured.

And -- he's being psychologically abused and he's losing all hope.

Of ever being able to return home to his family Jordan secular -- -- executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice the group leading the international effort.

To bring the pastor home tell us about his stay with what kind of information -- you getting that lead you to believe he's being tortured.

Sure well.

His -- both with the date was convicted which was the 27.

January his lawyers said listen he looked horrible that he wanted to communicate that message to pastor -- -- not -- -- here.

In the United States with their six year old daughter for real -- American citizen here and he just said -- he sounds all right his mental health seems good.

He had his spirits seem like he still waited for the fight and understands people around the world are trying to get him out and that's how you get out of this situation right back to your family but.

This past Monday his family was able to do -- weekly.

Brief visitation we're talking minutes not admitted under that and for the first time they said he he was really fearful.

And a little bit apprehensive.

And kept asking -- this is only within a week.

Are people still doing anything for me are people still out there it's tomorrow marks it's been one month.

Since he's been able to here's why it's always for a while daughter's voice explain -- -- mental side is getting it.

How could it not explain for people -- this -- on a rainy and man.

Who converted to christianity.

I became an American citizen and we see these pictures of -- -- we've been -- looks like your typical American Dad! pictures of him with his kids.

He left his wife and children here in the states though to go back to Iran to do what.

It's to build an orphanage and he would actually made an agreement back in 2009 with the -- -- government.

That if he was going to continue going back and forth to see -- family.

And -- -- humanitarian work -- it could not be Christian so he couldn't be.

-- their building house churches are setting those up.

And he -- he said -- part of his it's his duty he believed his faith was to go there and build this orphanage he was getting Iran's final approval.

-- going through the bureaucratic process that's why is on this trip his wife wasn't worried about it his kids have been there before that's where his parents are.

His Brothers sisters they'd live in Iran.

And so this was an unusual trip for him.

Nor was it -- -- -- some kind of zealot trying to make a political point or religious point for that matter.

And yet still he's treated as even as -- national security threat and that the charge was he's a national security threat because he worked with house churches.

Back in the early 2000.

And because he was allegedly trying to convert young.

Muslim men to christianity which is a threat to of course to that the leadership of that country talk to us about response here in the states we have a new secretary of state.

Fresh on the job.

President Obama I -- think Jay Carney the other day said.

That the president condemns what Iran is doing in regards to two to the pastor.

But what kind of a reaction what kind of a response an effort.

Are you seeing on the part of the US government to help get this man freedom brought back home.

You know that the day that John Kerry was confirmed.

By the US in it he did more than our past secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Had done for -- site an American citizen.

The entire six months we've been are now close to seven months we've been representing the family here in the United States were trying to work.

With the State Department -- Following up on a question senator rubio asked it and he deserves credit as well for.

Focusing attention on -- -- answer rubio submitted a written question saying what -- you do an end and sit Senator Kerry at the time now secretary of state.

Said I call for his immediate release we will do more.

And I know that sooner rubio is working on that as well he's gonna make sure that he prop him.

The secretary of state promised him that.

And that that's -- -- and we've seen a change I will tell you that.

Just in nets brief transition analog last week I'm glad to hear that there's there -- Twitter hash tag that your promoting for folks who want to get more information.

About this case it's that that the hash -- signs seem so I -- on Twitter for people to get the very latest on that Jordan secular -- Best of luck in your efforts keep us posted -- -- Thank you.

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