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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 15 - May 19, 2000

Toronto, May 19, 2000… As the trial proceedings near their conclusion, the Iranian Judiciary has begun to release details of the alleged crimes of the 13 Iranian Jews. The usual charges that one would expect in this type of case, such as collecting photographs of military installations and illegally possessing arms, have been coupled with the most bizarre allegations, such as plotting to contaminate the water supply of Shiraz and preparing to foment “social discord” by disrupting a provincial medical system that serves tribal communities.

These variations of the age-old well-poisoning libel are thus being used to portray the supposed malicious intent of the defendants towards their neighbours in Shiraz and the surrounding region. The authorities and media take great pains to stress that planning took place under cover of synagogue services, while “wild parties” set the stage for recruitment for the spy network. Judiciary official Hossein Ali Amiri conceded that “spies do not normally keep copies of intelligence they have sent”, but insisted “we have seized copies of the exact material”, and cited family visits to Israel as further proof of guilt.

These inflammatory charges are even more chilling given Iranian State Television's recent broadcast, timed to coincide with the trials, of an interview with a French Muslim †intellectual† who said that “all the Zionists around the world will eventually spy for Israel”. The proceedings have also taken place against the backdrop of renewed anti-Israel rhetoric that characterizes Israel as a “cancer” in the region.

In this week's hearings, 42-year old Javid Beth Jacob, a sporting goods merchant, "confessed" that he had been recruited by a brother living in Israel and admitted to participation in money transactions with Israel. Confessions were also made by 31-year old Farrhad Seleh, a shopkeeper, and 49-year old Asher Zahmehor, a university lecturer and community leader. This brings to nine the number who have confessed to all or part of the charges, while one man has maintained his innocence, and the three defendants out on bail will be tried next week. Nine Muslim suspects will reportedly be tried separately.

Two French representatives from Lawyers Without Frontiers were given visas to travel to Iran during the trial and were allowed to inspect the courtroom, but not during the actual proceedings. Nevertheless, the Iranian media still used their visit as a public relations stunt as if their presence somehow bestowed sanction on the legality of the proceedings.

While none of the defendants has been indicted with "moharebeh", i.e, "taking up arms against G-d or the State" which carries the death penalty, the charges still carry prison sentences of up to ten years. Defence lawyers have not even been allowed to interrogate the prosecution witnesses in spite of international outcry at the judicial travesty of this trial, which Amnesty International has decried as a violation of Iran's human rights pledges. Meanwhile the nature of the charges and the way they are being disseminated by the media have put the entire Jewish community at risk as their communal life and religious convictions become the object of state and popular scrutiny.

	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