Washington D.C. May 6, 2014 2pm --  Voters Tell Congress to Act Now to Free Imprisoned Americans Saeed Abedini and Kenneth Bae

Contact: Lisa Jones, Executive Director, Christian Freedom International, 800-323-2273, info@christianfreedom.org

FRONT ROYAL, Va., May 2, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian Freedom International will deliver thousands of petitions to Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf requesting the immediate release of two U.S. citizens, Saeed Abedini of Idaho, being held in Iran, and Kenneth Bae of Washington State being held in North Korea. Both men are being held in prison only because they are Christians. The petitions being delivered represent more than a million petitions that have been collected nationally. Despite the pleas of their families, House Resolutions, Congressional hearings, news coverage, and petitions already presented, no action from the Administration has been forthcoming. We are most grateful to Congressman Frank Wolf for accepting these additional petitions for the release of Saeed Abedini and Kenneth Bae.

In July 2012, 33-year-old Saeed Abedini was imprisoned in Iran for the simple crime of being a Christian. Kenneth Bae, a 44-year-old missionary, was arrested in the repressive nation of North Korea in November 2012, and convicted of committing "hostile acts against the republic" in May 2013.

Christian Freedom International has spent much of the past year raising awareness of the plight of both men, as well as providing ongoing prayer alerts and updates to the public. We have determined that an appeal directly to Congress for their release was essential. Jim Jacobson, President of Christian Freedom International has called the long-term imprisonment of these America Christians "shameful" and a "national embarrassment." Momentum has finally begun to build, and we believe it is time to speak out strongly; to bring pressure for action. "The petition campaign has brought a significant response," said CFI Executive Director Lisa Jones. "We will continue to keep pressure on Congress, the White House, and the State Department to see this issue peacefully and speedily resolved." "Every day that is added to their captivity is an outrage," she said. Christian Freedom International's petition to free Kenneth and Saeed is still open. Please go to www.christianfreedom.org now for more information or to sign the petition.

Christian Freedom International is a non-denominational human rights organization providing real solutions to conditions of oppression and human misery caused by religious persecution.