A Christian group is asking believers across the nation to set an empty place setting for Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. immigrant being held in an Iranian prison for his faith, at Christmas dinner to symbolically remember and pray for thousands of Christians in jails around the world.
The request to remember and pray for Christians persecuted for their faith is being made by two Washington, D.C.-based groups, Christian Defense Coalition and Faith and Action, as part of a national campaign called "Leave a Christmas Place Setting for Pastor Saeed."
Pastor Abedini, 32, who is married and has two children, was arrested in July during a visit to Iran, his native country. He is reportedly awaiting trial at the infamous Evin Prison in northwestern Tehran, where he has been beaten by both guards and inmates. His American wife is in Boise, Idaho.
"While Americans sit down with their families and friends to celebrate the joy of Christmas, there are thousands of Christians around the world who are imprisoned and persecuted for their faith like Pastor Abedini," the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said in a statement Friday.
"'Leave a Christmas Place Setting for Pastor Saeed,' will serve as clear witness to pray and remember all those who are imprisoned and being brutalized around the world because of their Christian faith," Mahoney said. "The empty place setting is a powerful graphic that fathers will not be with their children this Christmas. Mothers will be separated from their families and children will be apart from their brothers and sisters."