Contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Christian Defense Coalition will set up a Thanksgiving place setting in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. at 10:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.  It will be across from Lafayette Park.

They will also hold a prayer vigil and news conference at 10:00 a.m.

The display will be to remind President Obama to stand for religious freedom and the persecuted church around the world and work for the release of Pastor Saeed.

Christian Defense Coalition has already launched a Facebook campaign inviting Americans to leave an empty place on Thanksgiving to stand in solidarity and pray with Pastor Saeed and the persecuted church around the world.

Hundreds of families across America are already participating.

Here is the Facebook event page for "Leave a Thanksgiving Place Setting for Pastor Saeed."
www.facebook.com/events/462402373870696

Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen, has been in an Iranian prison for over a year because of his Christian faith.  He is serving an 8 year sentence in one of the worst prisons in the world.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,

"While Americans enjoy the blessings of spending Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, it is important to remember that millions around the world are being brutalized, persecuted and attacked for their Christian faith.  Thousands are in prison.

"Pastor Saeed will not be able to spend this special day with his wife and two young children, but instead will  be spending it in a cramped prison facing constant violence and persecution.

"We can never be silent when it comes to issues of human rights justice and religious freedom.  We must always be a loud prophetic voice in the public square calling for an end to the persecution and violence directed toward people because of their faith beliefs.

"'Leave a Thanksgiving Place Setting for Pastor Saeed,' is a powerful way for Americans to stand in solidarity with persecuted church around the world and teach their families about the important issues of human rights and religious freedom.

"We are asking that people post pictures on the Facebook Event Page so an album can be created for Pastor Saeed when he is released from prison.

"We will also be reminding President Obama that while he celebrates Thanksgiving with his wife and two children, Pastor Saeed will be spending Thanksgiving in a brutal Iranian prison separated from his wife and two precious children.

"Sadly, the President has not be a loud and active voice for the persecuted church around the world. This was clearly seen in the recent negotiations with Iran when the Obama Administration did not even raise the issue of Pastor Saeed or religious freedom.

"We pray and hope that while President Obama is thanking God for all the wonderful blessings of the past year, he would pause and reflect on the fact that his silence and lack of engagement on the issue of religious freedom has created untold hardship for millions of Christians across the globe."