[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN IRAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, on June 1, 1998, the Islamic 
Republic of Iran claimed its latest Jewish victim. Rouhollah 
Kadkodazadeh, a 60-year-old Jewish businessman, disappeared about 10 
weeks ago. His relatives did not know where he was, and his relatives' 
search for him led nowhere until June 1, when the authority, the 
Iranian authorities, called the relatives in and said, ``Pick up the 
body.''
  No trial date was ever supplied. In fact, it is not even clear 
whether a trial ever took place or whether Kadkodazadeh was afforded 
legal representation or the ability to prepare a credible defense. 
Reportedly, Mr. Speaker, he was charged with being a Zionist, a spy for 
Israel and a corrupting person on earth; those are all quotes; which 
can mean anything defined as corrupt in the opinion of the tyrannical 
Iranian regime.
  Recent perceptions of moderation and openness and public declarations 
by Iranian authorities, especially President Mohammed Khatemi, about 
respect for human rights and the rule of law were beginning to restore 
a glimmer of hope to Iranian religious minority groups after years of 
persecution, arrests and extrajudicial killings. This latest execution 
of a Jewish Iranian only serves to undermine any notion that a 
meaningful restoration of civility is coming to Iran any time soon.
  With all the economic hardships, pressures and social and ideological 
fragmentation which today characterize Iranian society, it is safe to 
assume that if Israel or anyone else even needed spies in Iran, they 
could easily locate many less watched people who would probably have 
better access to confidential information than a 60-year-old Jewish 
businessman.
  In this vein the claim that Kadkodazadeh was conducting espionage for 
Israel does not appear to be credible at all. It is more of the same, 
more nonsense from the Iranian regime which has no credibility 
whatsoever. More likely it was an effort to keep an already fearful 
population, the Jewish population in Iran, about 10,000 strong, living 
in fear.
  As to the charge of Zionism, the fact that such an accusation still 
carries the death penalty in Iran speaks volumes about that country's 
respect for the freedom of thought and expression. But even if one was 
to accept this notion as a reality, the simple truth about Kadkodazadeh 
attested to by those who knew him well is that he was not a Zionist. In 
fact, according to information I have been provided, he was not 
politically oriented at all. In Iran very few people are willing to 
engage in Zionist activities given the government's open hostility to 
Israel and Zionism itself.
  All indications are that Kadkodazadeh was an ordinary Jewish person 
in Iran with no significant distinguishing characteristics from other 
average Iranian Jews. Making the logical assumption that those who 
brought him to execution knew these facts, one would conclude that some 
power within the Iranian regime wanted a Jew killed.
  As with similar cases throughout the past, the reasons for such 
killings have been varied. Some believe that radical elements who 
oppose the somewhat more moderate government's rapprochement with the 
West and also happened to control the security apparatus as well as the 
judiciary undertake these sorts of actions in order to discredit the 
government. Others contend that the execution is simply the result of 
open hostility to religious minorities in Iran.
  Whatever the reason for Kadkodazadeh's execution, the world needs to 
understand that Iranian Jews can no longer carry the burden of 
supplying a constant stream of sacrificial lambs so that the various 
factions in Iran can play out their political games. No matter which 
faction was responsible for the actual killing, the Government of Iran 
must be on notice that they and only they are responsible for 
preserving the rights and safety of all citizens of Iran, be they 
Jewish, Christian, Baha'i, Muslim or otherwise.
  Mr. Speaker, we in the United States Congress must condemn this 
brutal act of execution, we must call attention to this brutal act of 
execution and serve notice in Iran that as a rogue state, she will not 
be allowed normalization within the international community until there 
is respect for human rights, democratization and an end to encouraging 
terrorism and extremism both inside and outside of its borders. What 
happened in Iran with Mr. Kadkodazadeh is a disgrace, a sham, and 
should be condemned by all freedom-loving people all across the earth.

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