DATE=7/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON - IRANIAN JEWS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264115
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has met with family members
of 10 Iranian Jews sentenced to prison by Tehran for
spying for Israel, and pledged support for effort to
appeal the penalties. Mr. Clinton has joined other
Western leaders in condemning the judicial proceedings
that led to the sentences - saying they failed to
accord due process of law to the defendents.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White
House.
Text: Mr. Clinton says he is deeply disturbed by the
verdicts handed down last week to the 10 Iranian Jews
accused of espionage, saying they were determined by
what he calls `a seriously flawed judicial process'.
The 10 were given jail terms ranging from four to 13
years.
He personally expressed his concern to the family
members, and vowed to work with U-S allies to try to
overturn the sentences.
Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations represents the
families, who do not want to speak publicly out of
fear for their own lives.
Mr. Hoenlein briefed reporters on Mr. Clinton's hour-
long meeting.
// Hoenlein actuality //
He recognized and stated all of the sentences
were unjust, and that he would work and try to
mobilize leaders in Europe, Russia, Japan and
other countries that have closer ties with Iran
to work together with the United States to
secure the release of these innocent people.
// end act //
Also attending the meeting was Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright, National Security Advisor Sandy
Berger, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is
running for a U-S Senate seat from New York, a state
with a significant Jewish electorate.
Mr. Hoenlein described the meeting as emotional, with
some family members crying as they described the
plight of their loved ones. He described the abuse he
said the 10 have suffered at the hands of Iranian
authorities.
// Hoenlein actuality //
They have been held in solitary confinement for
more than 17 months, they are allowed no
visitors except five minutes a week with members
of their family, when they are separated by a
glass partitian. We know they have been
subjected to in the past to physical and
psychological torture. These confessions were
coerced, obtained under duress, with no legal
representation present, in violation of all
standards of international law.
// end act //
Mr. Hoenlein says family members told Mr. Clinton that
they too have been subjected to abuse - harassed at
work and school, and their shops boycotted or targeted
for arson. He says Mr. Clinton discussed ways to try
to assure the security of the 27-thousand Iranian Jews
who live in Iran.
The trial of the Iranian Jews had been closely watched
in the United States as a gauge of the evolving
balance of power in Iran between moderates who support
reform and better relations with the west,and
religious conservatives who oppose reform and dialogue
with the west.
Observers say the Iranian court bowed to moderates by
not handing down death sentences to the Iranian Jews,
as has been done in similar cases in the past. At the
same time, they say, the court sought to please
hardliners by handing down stiff prison terms.
(signed)
Neb/dat/PT
05-Jul-2000 16:34 PM EDT (05-Jul-2000 2034 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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