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 27 - September 21, 2000

Toronto, September 21, 2000…An Iranian appeal court announced a reduction of between two and six years in the prison sentences originally imposed on 10 Iranian Jews accused of espionage. The court overturned convictions against the defendants for ‘membership in a clandestine spying ring’ and ‘recruitment of new agents’, but upheld the conviction for ‘collaborating with Israel’.

Hossein Ali Amiri, head of the Judiciary for the Fars Province, commented: “These sentences are the least possible sentences and we have used the ultimate of Islamic kindness and generosity.” The judgement is now final and cannot be appealed further at this level.

This decision has particularly affected Danny Tefilin and Asher Zadmehror, both of whom received thirteen-year sentences in July. The latter’s sentence was reduced to seven years, while the former must serve nine years. These sentences, though reduced, are still remarkably harsh, especially given the brutal prison conditions in Iran.

The ruling also stated that all 10 sentences would include time already served, to take into account the eighteen months spent in jail since the original arrests. It is unclear whether early parole for ‘good behaviour’ might further reduce the prison terms.

The appeals ruling comes just hours after the revelation in the Western media that Ismail Nasseri, the head of the defence team, received death threats during the case, and was under constant pressure to admit his clients were guilty. He was reportedly threatened that he too would be accused of espionage if he refused to co-operate. Although Iranian authorities denied these reports, the unwelcome publicity may well have provided the final impetus to announce a decision that had already been postponed four times.

The dismissal of the main charges against the defendants linking them to espionage activities certainly implies recognition by the appeals judges of the glaring discrepancies and lack of evidence in the State’s case. Given that these charges have been dismissed, the third conviction cannot be credibly justified. The fact that it has been upheld can only be interpreted as a message by the authorities that all contacts with Israel, however innocuous, are completely prohibited. This has put the entire Iranian Jewish community in an untenable position: how can it maintain contacts with family, friends and religious mentors in Israel without fear of future charges of “collaboration”?

Today’s announcement was doubtless an effort to placate critical Western governments, and the Iranian authorities now consider the matter officially closed. However, this case will not be over until the 10 captives have been completely exonerated. B’nai Brith Canada will continue to press the Canadian Government and the human rights community to work for their release.

	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