Saeed Abedini: Women's rights groups turned backs on imprisoned Christian woman in Iran

Saeed Abedini, an American pastor who was a prisoner in Iran until his release in January, said women's rights groups have ignored the plight of a Christian woman who is still imprisoned in Tehran, Iran.

Maryam (Nasim) Naghash Zargaran was arrested in 2012 and was given a four-year prison sentence. The 36-year-old woman who converted from Islam to Christianity was involved in the orphanage run by Abedini, which many speculate could be the reason why she was arrested.

In a recent Facebook post, Abedini criticized those who fought for women's rights but have abandoned Zargaran, saying they "never mention her name" in their advocacies. He said such organizations have "left a Christian woman in prison" while she suffered from health problems.

Zargaran suffered from a heart attack while she was incarcerated. Although she was treated for it, conditions in prison caused her health to decline. She also needs regular medical treatment for her heart condition.

On May 26, she went on a hunger strike as a protest against her arrest, the lack of medical care in prison and the authorities' continued refusal to allow her a medical leave for her treatment. Her hunger strike went on for 11 days.

"It is not important if you break your strike or not, because we have other things to do and we have to inspect other wards, as well," prison officials told her, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

However, because of international pressure, she was granted medical leave for 11 days.

While Zargaran was temporarily released, Abedini was able to visit her.

"She looks like she is just one step from death," Abedini said in another Facebook post.

He said there was a "high possibility" that authorities would not allow her to finish the 11 days medical leave but send her back to prison after a week. Abedini said Zargaran could have been given the medical leave "to shut down the news."

Zargaran is presently in a critical condition and is confined in the hospital. The prosecutor's office in Tehran has refused to grant an extension of her medical leave.

"We still fight and pray for Nasim's release," Abedini wrote. "Praise (the) Lord who ... is always in control!"