[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT OF 13 IRANIAN JEWS

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on behalf of the 
thirteen Iranian Jews wrongfully imprisoned and facing trial in Iran. I 
join with concerned people of all faiths around the nation, and the 
world, in calling for the observation of fundamental human rights and 
the ultimate goal of freedom for these innocent people.
  Iran has recently taken some positive steps away from political and 
religious repression toward the acceptance of freedom, justice, and 
democracy. Reforms, however, have been marred by a disheartening lack 
of concern for the human rights of religious minorities in Iran. 
Throughout my life, I have been committed to furthering fundamental 
human rights, especially religious freedom, for both Americans and 
people throughout the world. Therefore, I was deeply concerned by the 
February 1999 arrest of thirteen Iranian Jews informally accused of 
spying for Israel and the United States. Today, ten of the thirteen are 
still in jail awaiting trial, while the other three have been released 
on bail. This situation is especially troubling because these innocent 
community and religious leaders could face the death penalty if 
convicted.
  Mr. President, this entire legal ordeal has been filled with Iranian 
Constitutional violations and shrouded in secrecy. For instance, the 
thirteen have never been formally charged or indicted. This should be 
the first step in any legal proceeding, but it now appears almost 
certain the defendants will not know the charges they face until the 
trial begins. As a former Attorney General of Missouri, I fully 
appreciate what a daunting, if not impossible, task it would be to 
build a credible defense without knowing the charges.
  Additionally, although it appears the Iranian government might have 
recently reversed its previous position and agreed to allow the 
thirteen to choose their own legal counsel, the judge in the case has 
refused access to the defendants by their chosen attorneys. Beyond the 
seriously limiting results of this decision, the chosen attorneys 
cannot officially become the defendant's counsel until the necessary 
legal documents are signed, which will not occur until the attorneys 
and defendants meet. The courts have created one of the worst ``Catch-
22s'' I have seen.
  It also troubles me that the trial will be conducted in secrecy. 
After repeated requests by international observers and the press, the 
decision to keep the trial secret has been affirmed by the courts. For 
these obvious reasons, I believe it likely that the thirteen will not 
receive a fair and impartial trial.
  The members of the Jewish Iranian community, who out of respect and 
fear of the Islamic majority rarely speak out in public, have even made 
an uncharacteristic plea to the Iranian government. I join with this 
community in asking for all defendants in Iran, regardless of religion 
or standing, to have access to legal counsel of their own choosing, and 
to be afforded the requirements of Iranian law for fair and open 
trials. In addition, I urge the Iranian government to grant permission 
for the ten jailed Iranian Jewish defendants to go home on furlough for 
Passover, which begins on the evening of April 19th, if the proceedings 
have not yet been completed.
  Mr. President, I rise today in support of the basic principles of 
human rights and religious freedom. The Iranian government must do the 
right thing and provide these defendants their fundamental rights, and 
the International Community must use all available pressure and 
diplomatic avenues to influence them to do so. And the United States 
Government should demonstrate real leadership by diligently working to 
see the ultimate release of these thirteen Jewish Iranian defendants.

                          ____________________