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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 14 - May 12, 2000

Toronto, May 12, 2000… As Iran begins to react to unfavourable coverage in the West of its political show trial currently underway in Shiraz, foreign reporters have been allowed a glimpse of the courtroom in which the drama of the 13 Jewish captives is unfolding. Three more defendants have confessed, bringing to six the number who have so far voiced the correct formula of remorse and contrition for the benefit of the media. Human rights observers note, however, that co-operating with the authorities - and thus ensuring that the regime can "save face" in what has become a high profile case - may well be the only chance these men will have of ever seeing freedom, albeit after a prison sentence.

In this week's two hearings, 36 year old Ramin Farzam, 46 year old Nasser Levi Haim and 35 year old Faramaz Kashi, all involved in Jewish religious education, were the latest to "confess". The latter's brother, 31 year old Farzad Kashi, who is also a teacher, broke the pattern of confessions with his plea of not guilty. It remains to be seen how the Judge will react to his case. It may well be that the State will be satisfied with a predetermined number of convictions and will not press for guilty verdicts for all 13 defendants. This would in turn bolster their claim that the trial is fair, in order to answer the criticisms of the international human rights community.

The home of the majority of the defendants is Shiraz, one of the oldest remaining Jewish communities outside Israel. Its leaders had reportedly been warned against certain activities, such as the publication in Persian of the Bible and guidelines for the treatment of kosher foods. Since the trials began Jews in Shiraz have experienced acts of harassment by a suspicious and restless populace, and there are fears that this atmosphere of mistrust and hostility could spread to the rest of the country if the Iranian media continues to whip up public opinion against the community by broadcasting taped confessions that focus on the alleged religious motivation of the defendants.

No evidence has yet been provided to prove any accusations of espionage, but it will not be hard for the authorities to fabricate a case based on contacts with Israel through telephone, fax, e-mail, or even perhaps money transactions. All contacts with Israel are forbidden under Iranian law, so Iranian Jews are only able to keep in touch with their family members in Israel by rerouting communication through a third country. It is not only the Jews who are subject to such restrictions. According to the U.S. State Department's 1999 report on Human Rights in Iran, members of the beleaguered Baha'i community - considered a "heretical sect" rather than a "recognized religion" and thus subject to continual persecution - are liable to charges of “espionage on behalf of Zionism” if caught communicating with or sending donations to the Baha'i Faith headquarters, situated in Israel.

The fear is palpable. Against the backdrop of a tense political atmosphere, the specter of the old "dual loyalty" accusation looms large. As the Iranian propaganda machinery moves into high gear to justify the arrests, Jews throughout Iran wait in trepidation for the outcome of a trial that could call their collective loyalty into question.

	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