[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3558-S3559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PERSECUTION OF 13 IN IRAN'S JEWISH COMMUNITY

  Mr. GORTON. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 109 introduced earlier today by 
Senators Schumer, Brownback, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 109) expressing the 
     sense of Congress regarding the ongoing persecution of 13 
     members of Iran's Jewish community.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise today to denounce--in the 
strongest terms possible--the sham trial of 13 Jews in Iran accused of 
espionage. And I want to thank my colleagues for voting unanimously for 
a Concurrent Resolution urging President Clinton to condemn this 
mockery of justice and violation of fundamental human rights, and make 
clear to Iran that the United States and the world is watching the fate 
of these men very closely.
  Leaders in Tehran must know that the treatment of the Jews on trial 
will go far in determining the nature of Iran's relations with the 
U.S., and its standing in the community of nations.
  The 13 Iranian Jews, mostly community and religious leaders in the 
cities of Shiraz and Isfahan, were arrested more than a year ago by the 
Iranian authorities and accused of spying for the U.S. and Israel. 
These espionage charges are, of course, preposterous.
  Indeed, how could they be true? Jews in Iran are prohibited from 
holding any positions that would grant them access to state secrets or 
sensitive materials. And most of these men live hundreds of miles from 
Tehran.
  This mockery of truth and justice reached new lows this week. After a 
year in prison--isolated, no contact with family or friends, no contact 
with even a lawyer--three of these men were dragged from the darkness 
of one of Iran's harshest prisons and stuck in front of cameras to 
publicly ``confess'' to their charges.
  No-one is fooled. In fact, the world is appalled.
  These men were presumed guilty before their trials even began. That's 
because they are in the hands of the hard-line Clerics in Iran, who run 
the Revolutionary Courts. And, as we know, In Iran, the Clerics are 
never wrong.
  This is an Inquisition, not a trial.
  What we are really witnessing is a high-stakes attempt at a bait and 
switch. After forcing confessions to capital crimes, the Revolutionary 
Court judge--who, by the way, also serves as prosecutor, chief 
investigator, and jury--may dole out ``light'' sentences on the 13 men, 
to show how ``forgiving'' the Clerics are.
  Our Resolution makes it perfectly clear that these innocent men 
should not be used as pawns in a shifty battle of egos in Iran. They 
should be released immediately.
  The case of the 13 Jews is showing the world how far Iran needs to go 
before they may even begin to expect to be welcomed into the community 
of nations.
  That is why countless nations and all leading international human 
rights organizations have expressed their concern for the 13 Iranian 
Jews, and have denounced the abuse of their fundamental human rights.
  The United States recently presented Iran with goodwill overtures, 
such as lifting restrictions on many Iranian imports and easing travel 
restrictions between our two countries. We learned this week that 
goodwill gestures are meaningless.
  Truth be told, Iran has continued to display nothing but hostility 
and contempt for the United States and everything for which we stand.
  At a minimum, Iran must show signs of respecting human rights as a 
prerequisite for our improving relations with them. I am pleased that 
Secretary of State Albright has identified the case of the 13 Jews in 
Iran as ``one of the barometers of United States-Iran relations.''
  The same standards should hold true for international financial 
institutions. Iran's quest for $130 million from the World Bank must 
not be taken seriously unless and until Iran begins to show a basic 
understanding of basic rules of justice.
  Much has been made of President Mohammad Khatami's popular reform 
movement, and there is significant optimism that a kinder, gentler Iran 
is slowly emerging from the darkness of a 20-year hardline clerical 
dictatorship. Indeed, Khatami has received a huge mandate from the 
people of Iran over the past four years.
  However, Iran must fully understand that normalized relations with 
the United States is only a pipedream if persecution such as that 
enacted upon the 13 Jews accused of spying goes unchallenged. If it 
does not, then what kind of reform movement are we really witnessing?
  Colleagues, I thank you for supporting this Resolution urging the 
President to use all his resources to convince President Khatami that 
this farcical trial leading to a pre-ordained outcome will send US-Iran 
relations back to ground zero. Three of these men have already been 
tried and convicted without a shred of evidence. There are 10 more left 
to go. They should not spend one more day in prison. They should be 
released right now.
  Today, the voice of the United States Senate has spoken. And we have 
said unanimously: ``Iran, the world is watching.''
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; that the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements 
relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 109) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 109

       Whereas on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover 1999, 
     13 Jews, including community and religious leaders in the 
     cities of

[[Page S3559]]

     Shiraz and Isfahan, were arrested by the authorities of the 
     Islamic Republic of Iran and accused of spying for the United 
     States and Israel;
       Whereas three of 13 defendants were tried in the first week 
     in May 2000, in trials that were closed to all independent 
     journalists, outside media, international observers, and 
     family members;
       Whereas no evidence was brought forth at these trials other 
     than taped ``confessions'', and no formal charges have yet 
     been filed;
       Whereas Jews in Iran are prohibited from holding any 
     positions that would give them access to state secrets;
       Whereas the judge in the case also serves as prosecutor, 
     chief investigator, and arbiter of punishment;
       Whereas United States Secretary of State Albright has 
     identified the case of the 13 Jews in Shiraz as ``one of the 
     barometers of United States-Iran relations'';
       Whereas countless nations and leading international human 
     rights organizations have expressed their concern for the 13 
     Iranian Jews and especially their human rights under the rule 
     of law;
       Whereas President Mohammad Khatami was elected on a 
     platform of moderation and reform;
       Whereas the United States has recently made goodwill 
     overtures toward Iran, including lifting restrictions on the 
     import of Iranian foodstuffs and crafts, promising steps 
     toward the return of assets frozen since 1979, and easing 
     travel restrictions, all in an attempt to improve relations 
     between the two countries;
       Whereas the World Bank is currently considering two Iranian 
     projects, valued at more than $130,000,000, which have been 
     on hold since 1993; and
       Whereas Iran must show signs of respecting fundamental 
     human rights as a prerequisite for improving its relationship 
     with the United States and becoming a member in good standing 
     of the world community: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     President should--
       (1) condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the arrest of 
     the 13 Iranian Jews and the unfair procedures employed 
     against them leading up to, and during, their trials, and 
     demand their immediate release; and
       (2) make it clear that--
       (A) Iran's treatment of the Jews on trial is a benchmark 
     for determining the nature of current and future United 
     States-Iran relations, and that concessions already made may 
     be rescinded in light of Iran's conduct of these cases; and
       (B) the outcome of these cases will help determine Iran's 
     standing in the community of nations, and its eligibility for 
     loans and other financial assistance from international 
     financial institutions.

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