Boise pastor says he will appeal sentence in Iran

The wife of an American pastor who’s been sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran says the Islamic regime views his Christianity as a national security threat.

Pastor Saeed Abedini’s (sah-EED’- ah-beh-DEE’-neez) wife Naghmeh (NAHG’-meh) says her husband has worked with house churches in Iran and has shared his Christian faith, but has steered clear of politics.

She says he told his parents during a jail visit Monday that he’s appealing the sentence handed down Sunday by an Iranian judge.

The 32-year-old pastor’s wife and their two young children live in Boise, Idaho. She says they haven’t seen him since June and pray every night that he’ll be allowed to return home.

The U.S. State Department has called for Abedini’s release and has condemned what it calls “Iran’s continued violation of the universal right of freedom of religion.”