Imprisoned Iranian-American pastor gets push from State Dept.

[cbayer]

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/03/26/imprisoned-iranian-american-pastor-gets-push-from-state-dept/

Adelle M. Banks | Mar 26, 2013

WASHINGTON (RNS) Secretary of State John Kerry is calling for the release of an Iranian-American minister from a Tehran prison, a welcome step for advocates who had accused the State Department of being “AWOL” on the case.


Supporters of an Iranian-American minister who says he is being tortured in a Tehran prison hailed Secretary of State John Kerry’s call for his release. Photo courtesy US State Department

“I am deeply concerned about the fate of U.S citizen Saeed Abedini, who has been detained for nearly six months and was sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran on charges related to his religious beliefs,” Kerry said in a statement released Friday (March 22).

“I am disturbed by reports that Mr. Abedini has suffered physical and psychological abuse in prison, and that his condition has become increasingly dire.”

Kerry said such treatment violates “international norms” and Iran’s laws.

more at link

[MADem]

1. This won't be an easy ride for Kerry.

If this is the case I am thinking of, they are angry at the pastor because he was proselytizing, because he stepped away from Isla'am (his parents' faith) and, of course, because of his US citizenship. These are serious 'crimes' in a nation where the rule of law is based entirely on the Qu'ran.

He's being held in Evin (which is a massive hellhole where torture is the norm) and all reports suggest he's being beaten. Quite robustly, too, apparently.

The average price for a prisoner (Iran is cash-short and they do engage in kidnapping/ransom schemes, protestations to the contrary aside--they call it "bail" but we know what it is) is anywhere from a half million on up. This guy is rather high profile so they may want a million or two--maybe even more--for him. State won't pay but I understand this guy has backing from that lawyer who is active in religious cases at the Supremes. He has the wherewithal to put out the call and rake in some funding if they ever get to the point where they can negotiate some "bail," rather like they did for those hikers who supposedly strayed across the border (but who said they were abducted in Iraqi Kurdistan).

If he gets out, he needs to be told very clearly that he can't ever go back, ever, for any reason. I wonder if he had dual citizenship and traveled to the country on his Persian passport. If so, that further complicates matters, if the Iranians care to get shirtier than usual.

[cbayer]

2. This man has been engaged in battle with the Iranian government for years and

has faced increasingly severe consequences.

It seems that Iran could save itself some international trouble by letting him go but stipulating that he can't come back. I'm sure that is not what he wants, but he just needs to stay out of there for now.

He does have dual citizenship, according to what I have read, but I've no idea what passport he had been most recently traveling on.

[MADem]

3. Iran will probably let him go, eventually, when their asking price is met.

I don't think they're afraid of international trouble at all, though. He's worth money that will be put to good use by a cash-poor and sanctioned government.

If I were a betting person, I'd say the "starting bid" for his "bail" is a million, simply because of this guy's high profile. It could very well be much higher. Part of State's job will be to try to knock down the price and find someone to act as the "payer" so our hands stay clean. If individuals raise the money, that's not an issue, but the US government will never pony up the dough.

I remember that one of our allies in the region (Oman, maybe?) coughed up the cash for at least two of those hikers that Iran kidnapped for ransom (that is what they did, despite their bogus sovereignty assertions), but it was probably more like a cash-kiting scheme (we sell them military equipment or construction/farming stuff worth more at a deep discount, they take the money saved and apply it to the ransom), so that we could maintain that we didn't pay ransom for hostages.

[cbayer]

4. So, in light of all that, does Kerry's *intervention* make any difference at all?

Is there no room for diplomatic negotiations in these cases?

[MADem]

5. Absolutely. Someone has to find a "payer," and find a person who will

negotiate with the ulema, and help to close the deal.

It's all about public deniability on both sides. Iran does not admit that they kidnap people for cash, and the US doesn't admit that they deal with Iran on any level, when they actually do, through intermediaries in the region who are our friends.