The Institute for International Affairs Page

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

IRAN UPDATE 16 - May 26, 2000

Toronto, May 26, 2000… As reports come in of attacks on Jewish businesses in Shiraz and an arson attempt on a Jewish store in Tehran, it has become evident that the fallout from the trial of the 13 captives will not be confined to the Fars province alone, but will be felt by Jews throughout Iran.

The televised confessions of two of the defendants sowed seeds of suspicion and hostility that have marked the entire community. The resulting fear has reportedly kept some Jews from the workplace, while Jewish children are being taunted in school. Earlier this week the defence launched an attack on the state broadcasting service for airing confessions in what was supposed to be a closed hearing, thus effectively undermining the confidentiality of the court.

Hossein Ali Amiri, Head of the Shiraz Judiciary, dismissed as "baseless" allegations reported in the media that four of the defendants also spied for Iraq. He asserted that no other country has been named in the hearings apart from Israel. The basis for this charge is as yet unspecified, but its nature confirms the vulnerability of the defendants to the present atmosphere of hearsay and rumour that has clearly influenced public opinion.

The defence has pointed to blatant "inconsistencies34; in the defendants' statements, which have been used to implicate each other. In fact, Faramaz Kashi has rescinded earlier testimony in which he implicated his younger brother, Farzad, who has continued to assert his innocence. Esmail Nasseri, spokesman for the defence team, has demanded that the state provide proof that the material allegedly passed to Israel was indeed classified. So far the state’s case relies on little else other than the defendants’ "confessions". Nasseri has also petitioned the court to allow bail for the 10 defendants who remain in prison. The three defendants already out on bail have all asserted their innocence and declined to retain lawyers.

The eight or nine Muslim suspects implicated in the case have been out on bail since the case began and their names have never been released, though reports suggest that two or three of them appeared in court this week to answer charges. The uncertainty regarding names and numbers whenever these "suspects" are mentioned has left human rights observers dubious about their existence. However, they are wary of pressing the issue lest innocent men are rounded up to bolster the state’s claim that this case has targeted Muslims as well as Jews.

Meanwhile, the World Bank recently went ahead and approved two loans to Iran totaling US$232 million for primary health care and sewerage projects. The Bank stressed the loans were to support the reform agenda of President Khatami, but that no further loans would be made until after a review of the “concrete results of the reform program” over the next six to nine months, “taking into due account developments until then”. The United States strongly opposed the loan, while Canada and France abstained, citing ongoing concerns over the current tensions in Iran and the judicial shortcomings of the trial.

	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