Iran court cuts Jews' jail time in spy case

A defendant, center, leaves the court on May 1, 2000, the first day of the Jewish espionage trial in Shiraz, Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (Reuters) -- An Iranian appeals court on Thursday cut the jail sentences of 10 Jews convicted in July of spying for Iran's sworn enemy Israel, a judiciary official said.

Hossein Ali Amiri told Reuters by telephone from the southern city of Shiraz that the sentences of the 10 had been reduced by between two and six years. He said the court was still studying an appeal by two Muslims convicted in the case.

The case has drawn concern from world Jewish groups and Western countries worried the defendants did not receive a fair trial in Iran's Islamic justice system. Tehran, at pains to show that justice has been done, says reaction was exaggerated.

MESSAGE BOARD Reforms in Iran

Ten Jews and two Muslim collaborators -- a military officer and a defense contractor -- were found guilty of spying for Israel in July and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to 13 years by a Revolutionary Court.

Asher Zadmehr, an university English teacher, one of two originally sentenced to 13 years imprisonment received the biggest reduction -- he will now serve seven years in jail.

Hamid "Danny" Tefileen, also condemned to 13 years, will now spend nine years behind bars, the longest of the remaining sentences. Ramin Nematzadeh, like Tefileen a merchant, has the shortest term with two years.

Three Jews and two Muslims were earlier acquitted and the case remains open against four Muslims and a Jew who has fled Iran.

British Foreign Minister Robin Cook has put off a visit to Iran, ostensibly due to scheduling difficulties. Diplomats and analysts say privately that the sensitive case shaped his decision.

Inside Iran the case has put an unwanted focus on the comfortable lives that many Iranian Jews have quietly carved out in the Islamic republic.

Iran's constitution guarantees the presence of a Jewish deputy in parliament and recognizes Jewish laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance and burial.

Iran's 30,000-strong Jewish community is the largest in the Muslim Middle East.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran
Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Mohammad Khatami: President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Cambridge University Press: Iran factbook
Stanford University Report: Tehran
Area Handbook Series: Iran

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