Congressman Smith Statement on Saeed Abedini Sentencing in Iran
February 1, 2013
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement on the sentencing of Saeed Abedini:
”I condemn the arrest of U.S. citizen Saeed Abedini in Iran and Iran's continued violation of the universal right to freedom of religion. By offering Mr. Abedini’s attorney only one day for his defense, Iran has not provided transparency and fairness in his trial. I support the State Department’s condemnation of Iran’s actions and their call to release Saeed Abedini and respect his human rights. I, along with many of their friends in the Puget Sound region, offer my thoughts and prayers to Saeed, his wife Naghmeh, and their children during this difficult time.”