Naghmeh Abedini denounces 'Fifty Shades Darker' for promoting 'culture of abuse'

Naghmeh Abedini, the estranged wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, has expressed her support for a campaign against the movie "Fifty Shades Darker" because she believes that it helps promote a "culture of abuse."

"Recently, I was made aware of a social media movement with the hashtag #50dollarsnot50shades. I have thought this is a wonderful way to counter the devastating affects of these kinds of movies and the porn industry by donating to woman's shelters," Abedini wrote on her Facebook page last week.

According to Relevant Magazine, #50dollarsnot50shades encourages people to boycott the movie and donate $50 dollars instead to women's shelters for survivors of domestic abuse. Abedini said that she will be donating to a local shelter, and she encouraged her followers to do the same.

"These kinds of movies and the porn industry promote a culture of abuse that is so dark and evil and it feeds into serious social issues such as domestic violence, child pornography (and child abuse) as well as human trafficking and slavery," she continued.

She posted a link to the website of Safe Place Ministries, a woman's shelter in Boise, Idaho, for those living in the area who are interested in supporting the campaign.

Abedini campaigned relentlessly for the freedom of her husband, who spent nearly three years in an Iranian prison. But two months before Saeed was released, she revealed that he had been emotionally and physically abusive toward her during their marriage.

The pastor has denied the accusations of abuse, but court records have revealed that he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault in 2007. The documents indicated that Saeed pushed his wife several times during an argument at their home.

Abedini filed for legal separation a few days after Saeed arrived in Boise in January 2016. Saeed announced in October that he had filed for divorce from his wife, saying that it's the "only path toward healing."

Saeed was recently sentenced to four days of community service by the Ada County Magistrate Court for violating a restraining order filed by his wife. He was also sentenced to spend 180 days in jail, but the judge suspended all but five days.

The pastor was ordered to stay at least 300 yards away from his wife's home in West Boise, and the judge told the couple to have a third person arrange the bringing of their children from one parent to another.