WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor today to urge the U.S. to protect the rights of religious minorities throughout the world. Blunt specifically called for the release of Meriam Ibrahim and Pastor Saeed Abedini, who are both jailed for their religious beliefs.

In an effort to secure Ibrahim’s release, Blunt worked with U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) to send a letter on May 16, 2014, urging Secretary of the U.S. Department of State John Kerry to intervene on Ibrahim’s behalf. Blunt and Ayotte also sent a follow-up letter to Kerry and Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on May 21, 2014.

Last year, Blunt joined 11 of his colleagues in sending a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to use all resources available to secure Pastor Abedini’s release. The letter also condemned the Iranian government for Pastor Abedini’s arbitrary persecution. Blunt also joined his colleagues in sending a follow-up letter to Kerry on February 12, 2013.