[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6878-S6879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 116--CONDEMNING THE ARREST AND DETENTION OF 13 
                   IRANIAN JEWS ACCUSED OF ESPIONAGE

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

                              S. Res. 116

       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;
       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.

 Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, today I rise to submit a 
resolution condemning the arrest and detention of 13 Iranian Jews 
accused of espionage.
  In April of this year, 13 rabbis and religious leaders were arrested 
at their homes in the Iranian cities of Shiraz and Isfahan. According 
to the Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, the names of the detainees are 
David Tefilin, Doni Tefilin, Javid Beth Jacob, Farhad Seleh, Nasser 
Levi Haim, Asher Zadmehror, Navid Balazadeh, Nejat Beroukkhim, Aarash 
Beroukhim, Farzad Kashi, Faramaz Kashi, Shahrokh Pak Nahad, and Ramin 
(last name unknown). They have remained imprisoned since the time of 
their arrest, without charge, under accusation of spying for the United 
States and Israel, although they have no apparent ties to any type of 
espionage. Both the United States and Israel have dismissed the charges 
as false, denying any connection to the detainees. In addition to the 
United States, Israel, and Germany have denounced these arrests and 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as well as Joschka Fischer, the 
German Foreign Minister, have called for their release.
  Iran's treatment of its Jewish residents in recent years has been 
deplorable, forcing half of its Jews to flee the country. In the past 
five years alone, five Jews have been executed by Iranian authorities, 
without the fundamental right of a trial. In 1997, Iran hanged two 
people convicted of spying,

[[Page S6879]]

an event that emphasizes the extreme importance of timely action on the 
matter of these 13 detainees. Espionage is punishable by death in Iran, 
so the lives of these 13 people need our support and protection. The 
Iranian government's actions are deplorable and fly in the face of 
justice. This resolution condemns the arrests and calls upon Iran to 
release these 13 people immediately and without harm.

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