Showing posts with label American Center for Law and Justice. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

'Ground Zero' Cross to Stay at National Memorial - CBN News

'Ground Zero' Cross to Stay

at National Memorial

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The famed Ground Zero Cross won't be removed from The National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum for now.

The U.S. 2nd Court of Appeal rejected a challenge to the cross by The American Atheists on Monday.

The cross, found in the rubble of the World Trade Center buildings became a strong symbol for rescue workers and victims' families in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

But the atheist group said acknowledging faith amounts to improper "religious promotion."

The court disagreed. The Supreme Court has long held that accurately telling human history often requires referring to religion.

The American Center for Law and Justice filed an amicus brief to protect the Ground Zero Cross.

"We argued from the beginning that this was a flawed legal challenge designed to re-write history and eliminate a powerful historical artifact," Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ, said.

"This bizarre legal challenge from an atheist group was exposed for what it was - a skewed legal challenge that had no merit," he added.

"This decision is a significant constitutional victory that protects the freedom to display religiously themed artifacts of historical or artistic significance without running afoul of the Constitution," he said.

The ACLJ said they believe The American Atheists will likely appeal.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Why Students Don't Have to Check Faith at Door

Why Students Don't Have to

Check Faith at the Door

June 4, 2014 Andrea Garrett CBN News

Graduating seniors who want to pray or mention their faith during graduation exercises may face lawsuits or threats from school administrators.

Many school officials wrongly believe that those expressions of faith violate the so-called separation of church and state.

But Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, says they don't have to be afraid. The law is on their side.

"A lot of schools get it wrong. They're so concerned about lawsuits or the threat of lawsuits," Sekulow told CBN News.

"The school administrators or faculty cannot start the prayer. They cannot make you pray; they can't force that. But a student can absolutely use religious language in their speaking role," he explained.

So, when high school valedictorian Roy Costner was told graduation prayers were being replaced with a moment of silence, he was well within his rights when he tore up his school-approved speech and prayed the Lord's Prayer instead.

Also, in 2012, a judge threatened to throw valedictorian Angela Hildenbrand in jail for exercising her First Amendment right to invoke religious language at her Texas high school graduation.

"The court's order said there could be incarceration if anyone mentioned Jesus or said 'amen' during any of the speeches," Liberty Institute attorney Justin Butterfield said.

A federal appeals court disagreed with that order.

"The Fifth Circuit said 'No, it's okay for her to do that,'" Butterfield said. "It's her private student speech and she's allowed to say whatever she wants and you can't discriminate against her message just because it's religious."

While graduation prayer gets the attention this time of year, students are also facing other kinds of religious discrimination all year long. Free-speech advocates say both students and their parents need to be aware of their rights.

Giovanni Rubeo, 12, was told by his teacher that he was not permitted to read the Bible during a free reading period at school.

His teacher left the following message on the Rubeos' home voice mail:

"I noticed that he had a book, a religious book, in the classroom. He is not permitted to read those books in my classroom," the teacher said.

Giovanni's parents consulted a lawyer, and the school is now complying with the law, which protects students who want to bring Bibles to school and read them during free time.

"Students absolutely have the right to read their Bible at free reading sessions," Sekulow said. "The courts have been quite clear on that. You cannot ban students from bringing their Bibles. You cannot ban them from reading their Bibles during free time."

The bottom line for students is regardless of the time of year, they don't have to leave their Christian faith or free speech rights at the schoolhouse door.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating

Pastor Saeed - in Iranian prison

Pastor Saeed Forcibly

Returned to Prison after Beating

CBN News

May 21, 2014

Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor who has been imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital, forcibly removed, and returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison.

His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said.

"This is an extremely disappointing development -- one that breaks my heart," Naghmeh Abedini, Pastor Saeed's wife, said.

"Our family is deeply saddened and we continue to pray for Saeed -- for his safety and his release. We are very grateful that so many people around the world continue to pray for Saeed," she added.

In March, Pastor Saeed experienced similar treatment. He was transferred to the same hospital in shackles and beaten by guards. Abedini was then denied medical treatment and visits from relatives.

Saeed's situation at the hospital had improved after global criticism. He was allowed frequent visits from local family members and was given nutritional meals.

His forcible return to prison comes as efforts continue around the world to secure his release.

According to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) nearly 260,000 people from around the world have already signed the BeHeardProject petition, in an effort to get him released.

Let your voice be heard, sign the petition.

Watch: CBN News video

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Saeed Sends Easter Message from Hospital Bed

Pastor Saeed Abedini in Iran

Saeed Sends Easter Message from Hospital Bed

April 22, 2014 CBN News.com

Pastor Saeed Abedini sent an Easter message from his hospital bed in Iran, where he's serving an eight-year sentence for his faith.

The American pastor was visiting Iran to start an orphanage when the Islamic regime arrested and sentenced him to prison.

He was recently transferred to an Iranian hospital to be treated for injuries he has suffered while incarcerated.

"Sometimes we want to experience the glory and resurrection with Jesus without experiencing death with Him," Abedini wrote. "We do not realize that unless we pass through the path of death with Christ, we are not able to experience resurrection with Christ."

Abedini signed the message from a "prisoner of darkness in Iran, but free for the kingdom and light."

Click here to read the entire message.

Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, recently said he's doing better now that he's getting some medical treatment. He's finally being given decent meals and pain medication, but still needs surgery.

Sign the American Center for Law and Justice's petition to free Saeed Abedini here.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Pastor Saeed Abedini Pinned Down, Shackled in Iranian Hospital; Refused Surgery

Pastor Saeed Abedini Pinned Down, Shackled in Iranian Hospital; Refused Surgery - CP World

(Photo: ACLJ.org)

U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini in this undated photo.

BY STOYAN ZAIMOV, CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER

March 13, 2014

U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini was reportedly pinned down and shackled on Wednesday at an Iranian hospital, where he was also denied much needed surgery.

"This morning Iranian guards lashed out violently against Pastor Saeed and an elderly relative who had been able to visit him in the hospital. Pastor Saeed was pinned down and shackled. His elderly relative was roughly handled and expelled from the hospital," the American Center for Law and Justice, which represents Abedini's wife and two children in the U.S, stated.

According to the law group, Abedini was moved over a week ago from Rajai Shahr Prison to a private hospital in Iran where he underwent various tests for a deteriorating medical condition and received nourishment. And although he was promised that he would undergo surgery to address chronic pain in his stomach area - the result of numerous prison beatings - Abedini was sent back to the prison without being treated and doctors giving him nothing more than pain medication.

The American pastor's wife, Naghmeh, has been campaigning for his release from Iranian prison since his arrest in July 2012 while working on an orphanage project. Accused of endangering national security, Abedini was later sentenced to eight years in prison. The ACLJ, which has launched numerous petitions on his behalf, says the conviction has more to do with the pastor's Christian faith.

The ACLJ said it believes the timing of the latest incident is suspect, pointing out that the pastor was granted a visit to the hospital when the High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, arrived in Iran. As soon as Ashton departed the Islamic country, however, Abedini was sent back to prison without receiving the treatment he needed.

"The EU has been faithfully raising Pastor Saeed's case for some time, and this move would allow Iranian officials to report that he was receiving medical treatment if his case was brought up during the EU's visit to Iran," the ACLJ noted.

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"This disturbing turn of events reiterates the need to keep pressure on Iran. As soon as pressure is let up, the situation gets worse. Iran must not be allowed to continue to abuse and mistreat Pastor Saeed out of the public spotlight. The Iranian government is wrongfully imprisoning him and denying him needed medical care because he is a Christian. Each day apart from his family and away from the care of physicians is another human rights abuse."

In January, Abedini was given a "glimmer of hope" for clemency after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif seemed to suggest a possible reduced jail sentence. ACLJ noted that the Iranian New Year is March 21, "a time when clemency is often granted to prisoners of conscience."

Following outcry from human rights groups and Abedini's wife that the U.S. government had abandoned the pastor, President Barack Obama called on the Iranian government to release Abedini during his National Prayer Breakfast speech last month.

Over 192,000 people have signed a petition calling on Iran to free Abedini.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Saeed Has Led 30 to Christ in Iran Prison

Wife: Saeed Has Led 30 to Christ in Iran Prison

Click here: CBN News interview

CBNNews.com, Monday, September 23, 2013

The wife of the American pastor imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith says her husband remains bold for Jesus Christ in prison.

Saeed Abedini's wife, Naghmeh, recently spoke to students at Liberty University about her family's plight.

She said in spite of being tortured and asked to deny his faith in Christ and return to Islam, Pastor Saeed is a light for Jesus in Evin Prison, one of the worst in the world.

"They've told him many times that they would free him and allow him to return to our family, the kids and I, if he would deny his Christian faith, and he's stood strong in that prison. He's led many, many - over 30 people - to Christ in that prison," she told the audience.

Watch Naghmeh Abedini's full speech below:

Click here: CBN News

A special prayer vigil for Pastor Saeed is being held worldwide Thursday, Sept. 26 -- the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment in Iran.

It's also the day Iran's new president will be making his first trip to America to address the United Nations.

"Now is the time to speak out, to urge Iran to release Pastor Saeed," Jordon Sekulow, executive director for the American Center for Law and Justice, said in an email.

Demand Saeed’s Freedom. Write a letter. Be Heard.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2014