[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PROTESTING WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT OF 13 JEWS BY IRAN

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice to the many in 
protest of the wrongful imprisonment of the 13 Jews by the government 
of Iran on bogus charges of spying for the United States and Israel. 
The world community has unilaterally condemned this action by Iran, and 
our government and that of Israel have denied that these men were 
spies. Not only are the charges at best ludicrous, but should the 12 
men and one teenager be found guilty, they will be executed.
  Only yesterday, 8 of the 10 accused appeared before an Iranian judge 
and were coerced into a ``confession.'' They have been denied their own 
legal representation. However, the only crime that these brave souls 
are guilty of is their faith in the face of a regime that allows no 
practice of religion that runs counter to their's. These men of faith 
have held true to their religious beliefs in the face of threats 
against them by the Iranian government.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the government of Iran to release them, and 
further, I urge our government to apply serious pressure on this 
repressive government and to work with the Iranian opposition to help 
bring about real reform and democracy in Iran.

                          ____________________