White House, State Department Ask Iran To Free Pastor Saeed Abedini

Pastor Saeed Abedini with Wife and kids

An American pastor from Idaho has been sentenced to eight years in one of Iran's harshest prisons for preaching Christianity in Iranian homes, it was revealed today.

Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen who was born in Iran, has been held since September and charged with 'threatening the national security of Iran. 

The 32-year-old father of two says he was in the country only to establish an orphanage and was not preaching Christianity.

Saeed Abedini was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges that he preached Christianity in the Islamic nation..

The U.S. State Department and the White House finally called on Iran to release Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen facing a possible death sentence for his faith. The pastor's wife and senators and representatives had said the State Department wasn't doing enough.

"We condemn Iran's continued violation of the universal rights of freedom of religion, and we call on the Iranian authorities to respect Mr. Abedini's human rights and to release him," Department of State Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said during the daily news briefing at the State Department on Friday.