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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 25 - August 25, 2000

Toronto, August 25, 2000…In another clear message to the West not to intervene in the case of the captives, the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) announced that “Jews accused of espionage do not recognize any spokesman abroad”. In a fax sent to IRNA on August 20^th, families of the defendants reportedly laid out this position, condemning “self-serving and treacherous activities of individuals who do not have any connections to the Iranian people during the visit to UN Headquarters in New York by President Mohammad Khatami and other Iranian officials.”

This message contains an obvious warning from the authorities to international Jewish organizations and the wider human rights community to refrain from any protests during three upcoming events in New York: the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, the Inter Parliamentary Union meeting (IPU), and Khatami’s arrival, slated for September 6^th, to attend the UN Millennium Summit of Heads of State and the Millennium General Assembly. Iran does not want its participation in these meetings, and especially Khatami’s visit, to be marred by any public reminders of a case that has already caused considerable embarrassment. The defendants would obviously be only too willing to co-operate in any way in order to earn leniency, as illustrated by the wording of the fax.

There have also been reports that Maurice Motamed, the sole Jewish representative to Iran’s Parliament, will be part of the official delegation to the IPU meeting, as well as the delegation accompanying Khatami’s UN appearance, a move that is widely seen as an attempt to counter ongoing criticism of Iran’s treatment of its religious minorities.

The appeals panel currently reviewing the case is reportedly divided on whether all charges against the defendants actually constitute crimes. Hossein Ali Amiri, the head of the Judiciary for the province of Fars was quoted in the Iranian media as saying: “…the appeals court judges are studying whether or not each of these charges is a legal violation…they have some differences about the number of charges”.

Khatami’s visit to the United Nations is probably the reason that the authorities have re-scheduled the conclusion of the appeals hearings for September 5^th. It would certainly be in Iran’s interests to be able to announce a judgement on the eve of his trip that would have the potential to earn the regime some favourable coverage in the West.

This might have been a consideration in Khatami’s meeting yesterday with 40 leaders of the Iranian Jewish community, including the wife of one of the accused, the first time the President has ever met such a delegation. It could be a signal that the authorities wish to effect a more palatable closure to the case. His participation, and his promise to defend the rights of the accused, is particularly significant given that, whatever the outcome of the appeals, he has the supreme right to grant pardons or leniency if he so decides.

	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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