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Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission to hear testimony on man's imprisonment
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We have breaking news today on a US pastor who is locked up in Iran who has spent months in a notoriously brutal prison.
Simply because of his Christian faith welcome everybody bring -- our starting now on America's -- I'm -- Martha MacCallum.
Bill Hemmer good morning pastor site need of a Dini a married father of two.
Says he left his Boise Idaho home start an orphanage in Iran was arrested there -- charge of trying to spread christianity in that country.
Jordan -- as executive director of the American center for -- justice and he joins us now.
With this breaking news Jordan good morning I you have -- we're fighting for more recognition of this for a long time with the US government.
What's your news this morning.
Well we're gonna have a congressional hearing this Friday.
We found that over the weekend we were asked to up participate as well it's not may have to be pastor -- wife at a hearing before.
The Tom Lantos human rights commission which is completely bipartisan in the House of Representatives.
Many of the members of this commission including the two co chairs were part of the bipartisan letter last month to secretary -- Asking him to do more so this is not a Republican Democrat issue but instead really congress -- the who's doing everything they can't.
But the administration of being -- so we're -- actually be a bit testified to present cites case to the House of Representatives to the case that their condition.
And also the state department's been invited to participate so they will also be there -- subject to the questioning.
Of these members of congress who have asked for more.
-- say obviously as you point out is an American citizen and I think so many people have been shocked that they don't know about best that they are not aware that there's an American pastor.
Who is being held simply because he's a Christian we've spoken with -- vocal with his wife several times earlier in America's Newsroom.
And and she made it clear that that he has been told that if he would simply renounce his christianity.
He could go home but he won't do it.
So how -- -- think this might change things on Friday.
-- this -- Can be the what we've been working towards you know why she's doing the interviews why we're here why we're telling the story so publicly but we take every opportunity his life is in jeopardy he's suffering right now.
From internal bleeding he's not getting the Medicare he needs we are working on efforts to secure that.
It it through the proper medical treatment.
But.
This congressional action by did taking the action to call the State Department before the commission.
To call us to testify before the commission -- be there sitting next to knock -- have a -- Whoever won a seat a watches Fox News and we're going to be presenting this it's going to be official.
And that will then lead to I think a direct congressional effort for the administration to answer more questions and to ensure.
That when they say every once -- through the spokespeople the State Department White House.
They're doing what they -- they want him to be released they believe he should be released that they're actually he's going to start saying he must be released and they're actually doing these things.
Don't be able to get anywhere with that it was they have not been successful.
In the passing -- running government seems to feel -- responsibility to listen to to our government on these matters what I think.
I think they were successful with the hikers -- we're gonna go through -- this at the hearing the number of times the administration.
Spoke out for the hikers there's missing FBI agent the administration had no problems speaking out.
At -- minimal we wish we expect that for an American citizen as site is the government to to come and make it clear to Iran.
That this is important but this administration has ignored calls from congress both the house bipartisan.
Calls to do more and the senate I mean Lindsey Graham senator Graham asked the president to directly get involved.
We of course know that the president has not done that he's -- not -- -- hasn't gotten phone call they're widening.
As why would the president not be very interested an -- him.
I think there is what -- one issue which it's it's controversial but it because of his religious conversion.
And that this hearing focuses on religious freedom is well in Iran and there will be other faith groups represented.
But that because he's a convert and he's not a political.
Opponent of the regime he's not a political prisoner if you will in the classic sense that it's somehow more controversial to this administration but.
I'm not sure how -- person who's a Christian being imprisoned in Iran.
Is any more controversial than -- and retired FBI agent or hikers.
That that end up possibly you know and -- going over the border he had a right to be there he didn't violate any laws by going in he was cleared to go in.
His orphanage has been cleared as we've discussed.
But I have to take congressman.
Wolf Frank Wolf and that the co chair of the commission as well as.
That the Democrat congressman who's been outspoken on this Jim McGovern.
-- eat you know he he brings attention to the larger issue that -- underground churches in so many countries in the world we're Christians are being persecuted for trying to carry out their Christian faith.
In these churches as something that people need to be a lot more aware of thank you so much Jordan will be watching of course on Friday.
Analysts fortunately with you and not -- afterwards thank you -- that is.
