Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Christian Defense Coalition, 540-538-4741

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mrs. Abedini, who recently testified before a Congressional hearing that she felt "abandoned by her own government," has this to say regarding her actions at the White House, "I have made the decision to be arrested in front of the White House on March 8 because of my love for my husband. Because there is not one stone I would not leave unturned to secure his release."

I knew in my heart that this decision did not come out of rebellion against my government or hatred or disobedience, but it came out of love for my husband and the persecuted Christians. That it came out of love for those who are in chains because of their faith in Jesus."

A National Campaign is being launched called "I Stand with Naghmeh," and the Facebook Event Page: www.facebook.com/events/203724836499486

Faith organizations and leaders plan prayer and arrests at White House in support of Pastor Saeed and persecuted church on Monday, January 20, at 12:00 P.M. (Lafayette Park Side.)

This is also the national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King and also the start of face to face talks with Iran regarding their nuclear program.

Groups are troubled by the Obama Administration's lack of commitment to the plight of jailed American Pastor in Iran, the persecuted church and human rights around the world.

President Obama has yet to call or reach out to Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of Pastor Saeed, pledging American support for her imprisoned husband and religious freedom.

This is spite of the fact that Mr. Obama personally reached out and called Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in an American professional sport, and Sandra Fluke, an attorney, when she called for health insurance plans to cover birth control.

The Obama Administration also did not make the release of Pastor Saeed a pre-condition before the face to face talks with Iranian officials regarding their nuclear program.

Tragically, an American citizen and pastor being brutalized in an Iranian prison for his Christian faith and the crushing of religious freedom around the world, is not a priority for this Administration.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, based in Washington, D.C. states;

"Tragically the Obama Administration has shown no public commitment toward securing the release of Pastor Saeed from a brutal 8 year Iranian prison sentence or embracing religious freedom and the persecuted church around the world.

President Obama has shown more interest and passion in protecting birth control in health care than he has in reaching out to a family whose husband and father is being daily brutalized for his Christian faith or standing for religious freedom and the persecuted church.

Pastor Saeed is an American citizen and pastor, yet President Obama has never once called his wife, Naghmeh, giving her encouragement or pledging U. S. support for his release.

On this national holiday to honor the work and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, we will prayerfully and peacefully risk arrest in front of the White House challenging President Obama to publicly work for the release of Pastor Saeed, stand for religious freedom and embrace the teachings of Dr. King.

January 20, also begins the face to face talks with Iran officials regarding their nuclear program. Talks that are moving forward while an American citizen and pastor is being brutalized in an Iranian prison for his Christian faith.

We will be giving a national call to the faith community and people of good will from all across America to come to our nation's capital on March 8 and stand in solidarity with Naghmeh, her husband and the persecuted church."

For more information or interviews call: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741