[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 116 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 116

   Condemning the arrest and detention of 13 Iranian Jews accused of 
                               espionage.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 10, 1999

 Mr. Fitzgerald submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Condemning the arrest and detention of 13 Iranian Jews accused of 
                               espionage.

Whereas 13 Iranian Jews were arrested on accusation of espionage, and have been 
        detained since April, 1999;
Whereas the United States and Israel have dismissed the charges as false, 
        denying any connection to the detainees;
Whereas Germany, as the current president of the European Union, has expressed 
        its deep concern at the arrest of the 13 Iranian Jews, and Joschka 
        Fischer, German Foreign Minister, has expressed his deep skepticism over 
        the charges, and has called for the release of the 13 detainees;
Whereas the 13 detainees are rabbis and religious teachers, living in a Jewish 
        community in a southern province of Iran, with no apparent ties to any 
        type of espionage;
Whereas more than half the Iranian Jews have been forced to leave the country, 
        and five Jews have been executed by Iranian authorities over the past 
        five years, without receiving a trial;
Whereas Iran hanged two people convicted of spying for Israel and the U.S. in 
        1997, which implies impending danger for these 13 prisoners; and
Whereas espionage is punishable by death in Iran: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the arrest and detention of 13 Iranian Jews 
        accused of spying for the United States and Israel; and
            (2) calls upon the Iranian authorities to release these 
        individuals immediately and without harm.
            (3) calls upon the Iranian authorities to provide 
        internationally accepted legal protections to all its citizens, 
        regardless of their status or position.
                                 <all>