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

IRAN UPDATE 9 - February 4, 2000

The Islamic Republic News Agency has confirmed that three of the thirteen Iranian Jewish captives have now been released on bail.

Sixteen year old Navid Balazadeh, Nejat Beroukkhim, a religious leader from Isfahan, and Omid Tepilin from Shiraz will still have to face trial, though Judiciary spokesman Hossein Mirmohammad Sadeqi stated that the charges against them are less serious than the accusations leveled against the other captives. Earlier reports from Shiraz have suggested that the charges may relate to alcohol production and distribution, which is illegal in Iran.

It was also announced that court hearings will be held in the next few weeks in Shiraz for all the accused, though no fixed date has been announced. There is still concern that legal representation has yet to be appointed. Sufficient time must be given for lawyers to study the specific details of the allegations and prepare their defense case.

In an interesting departure from the usual Iranian media coverage on this case, a recent editorial in the English language daily Tehran Times was critical of the Judiciary’s delaying tactics: “The domestic media, time and again have appealed to the Judiciary to bring the accused to the court for trial in order to silence the guns of propaganda against Iran... Officially it was said that the case was complicated and more information should be collected... but this answer was and is not convincing...”

This editorial, appearing in an influential mainstream newspaper, indicates that even in Iran questions are beginning to be asked publicly about the complete lack of judicial process and credible basis for this case.

Index of Press Releases & Updates (click here)