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

IRAN UPDATE 7 - November 23, 1999

Reports of the death of a 44-year old Iranian Jew, Sepehr Ebn Yamin, while in custody earlier this month have renewed fears for the safety of the 13 captives held without trial for almost eight months on charges of espionage. It appears, however, that this individual was completely unconnected with the group in detention. The reason for Ebn Yamin's arrest have not been revealed, while the official cause of death was given first as a heart attack and subsequently as suicide, both terms often used to cover up sudden, unexplained death of political dissidents while under interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Jewish community is in turmoil amidst allegations that informers from within might have led to the arrests. Recent reports claim that those in detention were mostly leaders and activists of the most observant group of Jews in Iran, which had set itself apart from the community and experienced differences of opinion with the lay leadership. The group had apparently come under the scrutiny of Iran's hard line Ministry of Information and Intelligence.

The Central Jewish Committee of Tehran has generally reflected the community's hesitation to come out openly against the government's position. In a departure from this usual stance, the Committee publicly took up the cause of the prisoners earlier this fall, describing them as “our religious teachers” and calling for an open trial, noting that “spying requires devices which these individuals, whom we well know, did not have”. In spite of such efforts, however, the trial date has still not been set.

Officials at the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs recently expressed “cautious optimism” over this impasse, even though several months of quiet diplomatic activity by our diplomatic representatives have as yet produced no tangible results. Canadian officials continue to monitor the situation and convey our Government's concern at all bilateral meetings with their Iranian counterparts. However, it is considered unlikely that there will be further progress until after the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly, set for February 2000.

Other countries have been more vocal in their public criticism and demands for action. Last month, Martin Indyk, the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, stated publicly that the 13 captives had been arrested on “baseless charges”. France recently attracted the wrath of Iran when Prime Minister Lionel Jospin called for the release of the captives and warned that there can be “no return by Iran to the international community” if they are harmed.

Meanwhile, anti-Jewish propaganda in Iran still continues. The Tehran Times, in a recent attack on the Aga Khani sect, stated: “As this sect has originated from Judaism, it resorts to different tricks and ruses employed by the Jews in its [sic] fight against Islam”. This type of sentiment, coupled with statements appearing in the Iranian press earlier this fall by Judge Gholamhossein Rahbarpur, the head of Tehran's Revolutionary Court, that “the courts had evidence that proved their guilt”, is grave cause for concern over the captives' ultimate fate.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's subsequent assurances of a fair trial is consistent with his more moderate stance, but hard liners still control the judiciary, intelligence and security forces. Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has reiterated the Iranian judiciary's promise of a fair trial, adding that Iran does not carry out capital punishment for crimes committed in peacetime, the first indication that the usual death sentence might not be requested in this case.

As time passes, there is still growing concern about the physical and mental well being of the captives, in spite of assurances given recently to Austrian President Thomas Klestil that they would only be subject to “moderate” interrogation. Meanwhile, the media here in Canada continue to ignore the plight of the Jewish captives when reporting developments in Iran.

	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.
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