Back to Brief on Iran
Iran's state-run radio announced yesterday that 13 members of the Jewish community in the southern province of Fars had been arrested "on charges of espionage for Israel and the United States." "Their espionage operations were carried out in the guise of the Jewish community," the radio reported.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran, in a statement, strongly condemned "the arrest of Iranian Jews and the ruthless policy of persecution and suppression of religious minorities who have lived in peace and tranquillity in Iran throughout its ancient history before the mullahs came to power."
"The worsening human rights situation in Iran, including
the suppression of religious minorities, once again prove that Khatami's
rhetoric on 'civil society' and 'the rule of law' are but hollow and demagogic
gestures," the statement added.
U.S., Israel Call For Release of 13 Iran Jews, Reuter, June 8
JERUSALEM - The United States and Israel on Tuesday called for the immediate release of 13 jailed Iranian Jews accused of spying for both countries.
"These arrests send a very disturbing signal. We call on the government of Iran to ensure no harm comes to these individuals and to release them," State Department spokesman James Foley said at a briefing in Washington.
U.S. officials said the United States had learned of the arrests in April but had treated the matter with discretion at the request of those who were directly involved in seeking the release of the individuals.
Israeli analysts said the first arrests had been made in January and that for five months Iranian authorities refrained from divulging information on the case. Jewish groups have been seeking release of the detainees through quiet channels.
Israeli analyst Menashe Amir, an expert on Iranian affairs, said the 13 Jews had been jailed in Shiraz prison, "known for its severity."
He said those who were arrested were
suspected, among other things, of encouraging Jews to leave for Israel,
"a very grave matter for Iranian authorities." Those convicted of espionage
in Iran could face the death penalty.
An Iranian Gorbachev?, The Wall Street Journal Europe, International Commentary, June 4
It is a bankrupt country possessed of large petroleum reserves it has been unable to exploit because of the weaknesses of its totalitarian system. It has a new leader who has risen within (and largely approves of) the system, but is convinced that minor liberalization reforms are necessary to save it…
When Mohammed Khatami was elected as president two years ago, it was widely hoped that he would be an Iranian Gorbachev… But it is looking more and more as if he will come to resemble Mr. Gorbachev in an even more significant way, unintentionally presiding over the total collapse of his country's regime. On one point, at least, his opponents are right. Events are spinning out of anybody's control.
Anti-government student demonstrations of a kind and scale not seen since the revolution that brought the mullahs to power in 1979 have occurred in recent months, culminating last week in several consecutive days of student protests. Hooligans working for Iran's hard-liners (chiefly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and former President Hashemi Rafsanjani) attacked and beat the demonstrators….
Even the head of Iran's official IRNA news agency was arrested this week (and then released on bail) after charges were brought against him by reactionary legislators and members of the police and armed forces…
In short, Iran seems to be experiencing a sort of low-grade civil conflict. Opponents of the Supreme Leader too prominent to be merely bumped off are persecuted by "legal" means, while demonstrators are attacked by his version of the brownshirts.
While the West should forcefully voice its support for democracy in Iran, it would be a mistake to choose sides in the current leadership struggle and attempt to give material aid to the Khatami camp... But he is part of the clerical system just as Gorby was part of the Communist system. He wouldn't have been allowed to run for president if he wasn't. His open support of terrorists like Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah suggests he hardly intends to make Iran into a responsible member of the international community. Nor does he question Iran's theocratic regime. The interest of the West lies not in the continuation of that regime with a kinder, gentler face, but surely in its complete dissolution. Given its financial desperation (it has been pre-selling oil at ridiculously below-market prices) and political troubles, that could come sooner than we think....