DATE=5/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN TRIAL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261946
BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK
DATELINE=TEHRAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Three of the 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying
have reportedly admitted they had links with Israel's
intelligence agency. One of the three -- the main
defendant in the case -- told foreign reporters
today/Wednesday he spied for Israel out of religious
conviction and financial need. He also told reporters
his confessions in court and on Iranian state
television were not made under duress. Dale Gavlak
is in Tehran and has this report.
TEXT: The defense attorney for the Iranian Jews says
that a televised confession by the chief defendant,
Hamid Tefilin, was not enough to prove he spied for
Israel. Ismail Nasiri says Mr. Tefilin and the other
defendants had been jailed for more than a year, and
that under Iranian law and international procedures
such admissions of guilt after a long imprisonment
have no value.
The defense lawyer argues that Mr. Tefilin and his
colleagues gave Israel unclassified information
available in the public domain. He explains that this
could not be defined as espionage under Iranian law.
/// Opt /// Mr. Tefilin denies that his confession
was made under duress and admits receiving 500 dollars
a month from Israel for information he provided. ///
End Opt ///
Under Iran's revolutionary court system, there is no
jury and the judge is also the prosecutor. Defense
Attorney Nasiri calls the entire trial proceedings
flawed. /// Opt /// He adds that when he has asked
the judge for evidence of the charges, he is silent.
Mr. Nasiri argues that the Iranian government must
prove that secret information damaging to its security
and beneficial to an enemy country actually changed
hands. /// End Opt ///
The country's most prominent opposition leader,
Ebrahim Yazdi, says Iranians lack detailed information
about what is happening in the case.
/// Yazdi Act ///
The Iranian authorities, particularly in the
judiciary, are not used to give proper
information to our public here. Not only in
Shiraz (EDS: the southern city where the trial
is being held) but in other cases. No one knows
what has happened.
/// End Act ///
A student leader in Iran's reform movement, Akbar
Atri, agrees that not enough is known by the public.
But he says the Iranian Jews, as citizens, should have
their rights protected. He adds that if it is proved
they are traitors, then they should be punished. He
speaks through a translator.
/// Atri Act ///
If it's proved that these people are spies of
Israel, we must take severe action against them
because they harmed our national rights and they
betrayed our nation. We expect our judiciary
system to deal with these judgments according to
our country's laws and not destroy any of their
rights.
/// End Act ///
/// Rest Opt ///
Opposition leader Ebrahim Yazdi complains that there
is more interest in Iran's Jews, than other Iranians
languishing in jail and unlawfully treated.
/// Yazdi Act ///
It's unfortunate that the outside world has
shown more sensitivity towards the Jews than the
other Iranians. It seems to be that in the mass
media there is some sort of racist attitude. If
they arrest Jews, they make some sort of fuss.
If they arrest non-Jews, they don't make any
fuss about it. What's the difference?
/// End Act ///
Mr. Yazdi says there are still large numbers of
students imprisoned for their participation in pro
democracy demonstrations last year. (Signed)
NEB/DG/GE/JP
03-May-2000 14:54 PM EDT (03-May-2000 1854 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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