New Secretary of State John Kerry has called for the release of Boise pastor Saeed Abedini, who was recently sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison for trying to convert people to Christianity.

The National Security Council has also called for Abedini's release, and news outlets around the world have covered his case this week. Idaho's U.S. senators and representatives have also called for his release.

Abedini, 32, is a dual citizen who lives in Boise with his wife and two young children but traveled to Iran, where he was born and has family, until he was detained there last summer. He's been in custody ever since.

His wife and children have spoken with him via telephone, but the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative organization in Washington, D.C, that represents them, said they may not be able to speak with him again while he's in prison. His family in Iran also saw him in person this week.

Abedini is an ordained pastor through the Calvary Chapel church. He does not practice at the church in Boise, but he and his family are members there.