For Immediate Release
July 1, 2000 - Shock waves reverberated throughout the human rights community at the harsh and extensive prison sentences announced in Iran today for 10 of the Jewish defendants accused of espionage. There are even reports that flogging and cash fines have been added to the jail component. As IRAN NEWS claimed exultantly in its headline: “Islamic Law Makes the Punishment Fit the Crime.”
There is little doubt, however, that the crux of this case is a crude attack on orthodox Jewish observance in Iran. In a 72-page judgement, the Judge alleged that the network was “founded on the basis of Judaism and its success was due to the fact that it tried to keep religion alive”. In one fell swoop, the authorities have, in effect, destroyed the entire religious infrastructure of the Shiraz Jewish community, a community that was dedicated to religious revival. The Court’s ruling is therefore a warning to all observant Jews in Iran that their religious observance makes them suspect.
“We are appalled at the harshness of the sentences”, stated Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President of B’nai Brith Canada. “This judgement smacks of classical antisemitism at its worst. The broad, unsubstantiated accusations against the Jewish religion, and thus the community at large, is a horrific example of bias and prejudice and raises the old canard of dual loyalty. As long as these innocent Jews remain incarcerated, Iran cannot be welcomed back into the community of civilised nations.”
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