[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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