April 12, 2000

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

We have been monitoring events concerning the 13 arrested Iranian Jews very closely and would like to report the following changes in the situation.  Despite reports that the trial would be postponed, it appears that the trial will go forward as scheduled on Thursday, April 13th, with the possibility that it may recess to a later date.  If the trial begins and is postponed, or extends beyond the beginning of Pesach, we are urging that the imprisoned Iranian Jews be granted bail in order to be able to spend the chagim with their families. 

There have been many reports in the press that have raised many questions.  Among the issues being clarified is the possibility that only two of the thirteen will be charged with espionage and the others with lesser crimes.  We cannot allow distinctions to be made for the thirteen arrested Iranian Jews - all are absolutely innocent and all should be released.  Recent reports also indicate that the trial may be closed, a cause for much concern.

Despite press reports that all of the prisoners have been allowed to appoint lawyers of their own choosing, we have learned that this may not be the case.  There may be fewer lawyers, all of them appointed by the judge, except for those chosen by the three who are out on bail.

Community efforts on behalf of the thirteen arrested Iranian Jews should continue.  Our member synagogues are urged to continue the tehilim and tefilah services on their behalf.  We have been contacted by many shuls, yeshivot and day schools who reported that these services have been held.  Letters to European, Japanese and UN ambassadors as well as prayer vigils with political and religious leaders are encouraged.  Letters and editorials should be published in local papers.  The focus of all these events and communications should be the human, legal and civil rights of the prisoners and their release.  Please refer to the OU Information Center on the 13 arrested Iranian Jews that is posted on our web site at www.ou.org.  Our action alerts of the past few weeks contain information as well as a sample letter and list of contacts and addresses.

A petition is being circulated by governors nationwide, led by Governor Pataki of New York and Governor Carper of Delaware.  Kindly contact your governor and ask him/her to sign the petition.  Senator Schumer (D-NY), Senator Kyl (R-AZ) and Senator Wyden (D-OR) are introducing a resolution in the Senate.  Kindly contact your senators and urge them to sign this resolution.

Please feel free to call the OU/IPA at 212-613-8124 with any questions you may have.  We would greatly appreciate it if you would let us know of your activities, including prayer services, vigils, outreach to political leaders, foreign leaders, leaders of other faiths, legal experts, humanitarian associations and others.  This way we can know how much our community is doing in order to observe the mitzvah of pidyon shevuyim.

Tizku le’mitzvot.

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