The Institute for International Affairs Page

	The B'nai Brith Canada Institute for International Affairs has a mandate to protest the abuse of human rights throughout the world and advocate on behalf of worldwide Jewish communities in distress. The Institute has a special focus on pro-Israel advocacy and education.
Rochelle Wilner President	Frank Dimant Chief Executive Officer	Amos Sochaczevski National Chair	Ruth Klein National Director

There is no greater mitzvah than Redemption of Captives
Maimonides, Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Matanot Ani’im, Chapter 8, Article 10

IRAN UPDATE 4 - July 9, 1999

The issue of the 13 Jewish captives is currently receiving considerably more attention in the Iranian press than in the Western media. According to yesterday’s Tehran Times, a group of Iranian university students have urged their Foreign Minister to recall Iran’s ambassador from Paris and to expel the French Ambassador from Iran in retaliation for the strong protest of the French Government to the arrests.

This newspaper, which is the official English language daily paper, complained that “western governments are now shedding crocodile tears for the arrest in Iran of 13 spies that worked for the Zionist government”. The word "spies" is openly used even though no trial has yet been held, no date has been set for these proceedings and there has still been no clarification of the exact charges against the accused.

In another development, the mother of the youngest of the captives, 16-year old Navid Balazadeh, is reported as saying that her son is being treated well in prison and has a "high morale", which is remarkable after 111 days in detention. Families desperate for contact can hardly comment otherwise, so there is still a need for independent, international observers to be allowed access to the prisoners.

Please continue to express your concern to the Iranian Government. Form letters are available from B’nai Brith Headquarters or your local synagogue. Alternatively, the e-mail address for President Khatami of Iran is khatami@president.ir. Your appeals will make a difference in demonstrating to the Iranians that this issue will not be forgotten.

Leader of the Islamic Republic
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khameini
The Presidency
Palestine Avenue
Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran , Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Ayatollah Khamenei, Tehran, Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 650 203 (via Interior Ministry, ask for fax to be forwarded)

Head of the Judiciary
His Excellency Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi
Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Telegrams: Head of the Judiciary, Tehran, Iran

Please send copies of all letters to:

Minister of Foreign Affairs:
His Excellency Kamal Kharrazi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Avenue
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 674 790

Mr Mohammad Hassan Zia'i-Far
Secretary, Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 13165-137
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Fax: 011 98 21 204 0541

LET US NOT REMAIN SILENT WHILE THE LIVES OF THESE MEN HANG IN THE BALANCE

Index of Press Releases & Updates (click here)