[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONDEMNING IRAN OVER THE DETENTION AND TRIAL OF 13 JEWS

  (Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to condemn the actions of Iran 
in accusing and now trying 13 Jews for allegedly spying for Israel and 
the United States.
  All 13 have been jailed and isolated for more than a year without 
being formally charged with anything. They are now being formally 
tried, again without formal charges having been brought.
  Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a group of people aged 17 to 48 who 
are among the least likely to ever be involved in espionage. We are 
talking about a rabbi, a student, three Hebrew teachers, a shoe store 
clerk, and a kosher butcher.
  They are now confronting a judge who has it in his power to execute 
them on grounds that are unsupported and without evidence.
  All 13 were arrested by the authorities of the Islamic Republic on 
the eve of Passover in 1999. They have had little access since then to 
either family or legal counsel.
  Mr. Speaker, I think this Congress should rise as one voice 
repeatedly and repeatedly to condemn this trial and to demand that Iran 
release these people back to their families and to freedom. This trial 
is a sham, and it should be treated as one by the world.

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