Pastor Saeed 'Shaken' after Brutal Executions

American Pastor Saeed Abedini, imprisoned in Iran for his faith, was visibly shaken after witnessing six fellow prisoners beaten and taken to the gallows for execution, his wife says.

Saeed's family was able to have a brief visit with the pastor, who has been imprisoned for two and half years in one of the country's worst prisons.

"Saeed was quite shaken as he had to witness six fellow prisoners being beaten and taken to be executed (hanged) that day," Pastor Saeed's wife, Naghmeh, wrote in an update.

"It was a hard and dark day having witnessed that and seeing life being taken. The prison visit was also very hard as the families of those who were executed were crying and wailing," she said.

Sign the American Center for Law and Justice's petition to free Saeed here. Send a pre-written letter, or you can write your own words to the Iranian president at the Be Heard Project: Saeed Abedini.

"It was also an emotional visitation as it is getting closer to Jacob's 7th birthday. Last time Saeed saw Jacob he was 4 years old," she added.

Such executions are not uncommon in the Iranian prison.

"Pastor Saeed remains in an incredibly dangerous situation. Summary executions, inmate violence, and beatings are commonplace, particularly in Rajai Shahr prison," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said.

Saeed's health has also not improved after suffering from severe internal injuries from beatings, his wife said.

"The Obama administration must do all within its power to bring this wrongfully imprisoned U.S. citizen home to his family in America," Sekulow said.

"After President Obama met with Pastor Saeed's wife and children last month, we have continued to work with the U.S. State Department as we pressure the administration not to leave Pastor Saeed behind as it sits at the negotiating table with Iran," he said.

ACLJ representatives and Naghmeh discussed her husband's deteroriating health with the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, David Sapertsein. Iran has routinely denied to provide him medical treatment.

"There can be no deal with Iran as it imprisons and torments our own citizens," Sekulow wrote.

"Thank you all for praying. Please continue to pray for Saeed to have the strength to endure in that harsh prison and that Jesus would continue to meet him there and give him hope. Please pray that this will be the year that Saeed is released," Naghmeh wrote.