Idaho senator James Risch is making an appeal to the Iranian people for Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, jailed in Iran’s brutal Evin prison for his faith. Abedini has been in prison for nearly 300 days suffering long periods in solitary confinement, beatings and torture at the hands of Iranian jailers.

Abedini traveled to Iran to help build an orphanage. He had lived in Iran prior to becoming a U.S. citizen and had been a key people in the home church movement. He was arrested in 2009 and released after pledging to stop organizing house churches.

Senator Risch’s statement, dubbed into Farsi and broadcast on Voice of America to the Iranian people, calls on the Iranian people to press for freedom and democracy. Iran elections to replace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad start Friday.

“An American citizen from my hometown of Boise, Idaho, Pastor Saeed Abedini, is currently being held in the Evin prison for practicing his faith and helping children in your country,” Risch says in his 54-second video. “For this and many other reasons, the citizens of America support your hope for freedom and democracy and wish you well as you find the path to a brighter future.”