Pastor Saeed Abedini’s Wife: ‘There Are Times When Love Must Stop Enabling a Growing Cancer

Naghmeh Abedini spent three years publicly advocating for the release of her imprisoned husband, but when Saeed was set free, it was far from rainbows and sunshine for the Christian couple.  

“Since Saeed’s freedom I have wanted nothing more than to run to him and welcome him home It is something I dreamed about the last 3.5 years,” Naghmeh Abedini posted on Facebook. “But unfortunately things did not work out that way and our family has to work through reconciliation.” 

The release comes a few months after Naghmeh told supporters Saeed abused her in “physical, emotional, psychological and sexual” ways.

Now, Naghmeh says he threatened to end their marriage if she did not continue to support him in the public eye while he was in prison. Naghmeh filed a domestic relations case in Idaho earlier this week to ensure the protection of her family if Saeed did file for divorce.  

“I have taken temporary legal action to make sure our children will stay in Idaho until this situation has been resolved. I love my husband, but as some might understand, there are times when love must stop enabling something that has become a growing cancer,” Naghmeh wrote. “We cannot go on the way it has been. I hope and pray our marriage can be healed. I believe in a God who freed Saeed from the worst prisons can hear our plea and bring spiritual freedom.”

She continued, “I want our reconciliation to be strictly based on God’s Word. I want us to go through counseling, which must first deal with the abuse. Then we can deal with the changes my husband and I must both make moving forward in the process of healing our marriage.” 

Iran released Saeed earlier this month in a prisoner swap. Since landing in America, the pastor has spent time with Franklin Graham and with counselors at The Cove at the Billy Graham Training Center.