[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 130 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LETTER FROM REV. BILLY GRAHAM TO THE PRESIDENT ROUHANI OF THE ISLAMIC 
                            REPUBLIC OF IRAN

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                         HON. ROBERT PITTENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 2013

  Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, attached is a letter from Rev. Billy 
Graham to President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is 
the letter I referenced in my one minute speech on September 26, 2013.

                                     Montreal, North Carolina,

                                               September 23, 2013.
     President Hassan Rouhani,
     Islamic Republic of Iran.
       Dear President Rouhani, I have been watching with great 
     concern about the case of Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American 
     citizen who is currently a prisoner in your country. He was 
     in Iran working to build an orphanage when he was arrested 
     and later sentenced to eight years in prison. His situation 
     has been receiving an increasingly high level of attention in 
     the United States. Unfortunately this publicity has been 
     entirely negative for Iran, with the belief that the primary 
     reason for Pastor Abedini's imprisonment was because of his 
     Christian faith.
       As you may know, as a religious leader I have often spoken 
     (both publicly and also privately with our national 
     leadership) about the need for greater understanding and 
     peace among the nations of the world. As you come to the 
     United States this week for the UN General Assembly in New 
     York, it is my sincere hope that ways may be found to reduce 
     the current tensions between the United States and the 
     Islamic Republic of Iran.
       The announcement on Monday that your country has freed 
     eighty political prisoners is very encouraging. I fear, 
     however, that the current publicity surrounding the continued 
     imprisonment of Pastor Abedini, an American citizen, may 
     further harm the already fragile relationship that presently 
     exists between our two nations.
       On September 26, the one-year anniversary of Pastor 
     Abedini's imprisonment, thousands will attend prayer vigils 
     in more than seventy U.S. cities, calling on your country to 
     release this husband, father, and servant of God. I join them 
     by respectfully asking you to release Pastor Saeed Abedini 
     from prison. Such an action would, I believe, have a positive 
     impact in our nation, and might well be perceived by our 
     leadership as a significant step in reducing tensions.
           Respectfully yours,
     Billy Graham.

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