April 7, 2000

Memorandum:
To:         Rabbis, Officers, Synagogue leaders
From:    Richard B. Stone, Chairman

The OU/IPA has received many calls from member synagogues requesting information about mobilizing action on behalf of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews.  Below are outlined some action recommendations which can be used by rabbis and synagogue leaders to mobilize communities in this mitzvah of "pidyon shevuyim," redeeming the captives.
 
As the situation is continually changing on the ground, we will send you an updated fact sheet and memorandum under separate cover following these recommendations.  Although several reports have appeared in the press today describing changes in the situation, we are being cautious about them as we have information that the circumstances are still in flux. 
 
In the meantime, you may choose among the activities listed below.  This list has been carefully developed keeping uppermost in mind that our primary obligation is the well-being of the 13 arrested Jews and the Iranian Jewish community.  The complexity and delicacy of the situation imposes certain restraints and restrictions.  We hope that you will honor these restraints and restrictions in the interest of the Iranian Jews.  At this point in time, we continue to believe that mass demonstrations and protests are counter productive, although they may be called for in the future.
 
This list of suggestions will be updated as the developments dictate and fact sheets of updated information will be sent to you by fax.  

On Wednesday, April 5, the Orthodox Union held a special Yom Kippur Katan prayer service and recited Tehilim, led by Rabbi Yosef Grossman at OU headquarters in New York City.  Many shuls, yeshivot, schools and Batei Midrashim across the nation and abroad, including Eretz Yisrael and the FSU, did the same.  As public activities are beginning now in North America and in Europe and in other communities this weekend, kindly consult the list of suggestions below.  You may call us at (212) 613-8124 with any questions that you may have.
 
SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS:

• Devote this coming Shabbat to special prayers, sermons, tehilim, and other appropriate programs such as discussing the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim.  A list of the Hebrew names of the 13 arrested Jews is attached.

• Special tehilim services can also be held during the week of the trial.  As of now, the trial is slated for next week although reports vary about efforts to postpone it.  We will keep you apprised of any developments about this.

• Rabbis and synagogue leaders with contacts to leaders of other faiths, humanitarian groups, and appropriate business groups can also ask them to issue statements, write to the Iranian government, or send observers to the trial.

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES:

• We do not believe that at this moment street protests and mass demonstrations are appropriate.  However, public vigils with the participation of rabbis, Jewish community leaders, government leaders, human rights figures, and non-Jewish leaders are in order.  Our aim in this is to underscore the urgency of this as a human rights issue, not only a Jewish issue.  These vigils can be conducted around the clock or throughout the day at key locations (e.g., near Iranian diplomatic posts or at central, high profile sites).  Again, these should be vigils and not mass demonstrations.

• Press statements and press coverage of the vigils are encouraged.  You may also encourage your local newspapers to write editorials on behalf of the 13 Iranian Jews stressing the urgency of this important human rights issue.

• Public statements, letters to the editor, and interviews by human rights activists, clergy and political personalities are in order. 

Legal associations and human rights groups may place ads in local papers.

• Since events should be scheduled to assure continuous activity before the trial we will be in contact with you with news of the trial date.

DIPLOMATIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Embassies and local consulates of West European countries, Japan, Muslim countries and other countries should be contacted to urge continued intercessions with the government of Iran at the highest level and to request that they emphasize that the case of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews will affect their relations with Iran.

• Members of Congress should be urged to support resolutions now being circulated.  We will send these texts to you in a separate fax.
  Addresses are available on our website www.ou.org.

• The U.S. administration should be encouraged to continue intercessions with foreign governments, opposition to the World Bank loan to Iran, and to warn Iran that no further gestures or concessions or the lifting of any sanctions will be forthcoming until these 13 Iranian Jews are free.  The OU/IPA protested the lifting of sanctions regarding the sale of luxury goods from Iran, especially since the 13 Iranian Jews are still in danger. 

• The United Nations should be urged to encourage direct representations.  U.N. ambassadors should get letters from synagogues and communities asking their governments to act. 

• Governments with resident ambassadors in Iran should be urged to ask that they request to be observers at the trial. 

• Letters should go to the U.N. Human Rights Committee in Geneva urging them to send a representative to raise the plight of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews.

TALKING POINTS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: 

1. We are requesting the release of the 13 arrested Iranian Jews. At the very least, the 10 still remaining in prison should be granted bail.

2. The allegations of espionage are groundless and totally false.  

3. After a year of imprisonment, no formal charges have been brought.

4. Urge an open and fair trial with observers from the United Nations, human rights associations, legal associations, the Jewish community, resident ambassadors in Iran.

5. Remind Iran that the case of the 13 is a "barometer" for future Iran-U.S. relations, as Secretary Albright has said; that it is a "test case of the Khatami government," as Vice President Gore has said and will affect their standing in the international community as declared by many governments.

6. The emphasis must be on the humanitarian and human rights elements of this issue, and not attacks or threats against the government of Iran.  We want all of our activities to help, not to be counter-productive. 

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