USA: NEW YORK: PROTESTERS SUPPORT IRANIAN JEWS

(10 Jul 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Protesters again took to the streets of New York today to decry an Iranian court's conviction of ten Jews on spy charges.

America's Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, said the U-S administration is watching Iran to see that justice is done.

New York Congressman Rick Lazio also attended and called for close monitoring of the appeals process in Iran.

Lazio's Senate campaign has been reaching out to Jewish groups in New York, a traditionally democratic constituency.

Lazio called the issue not only one of international justice but also a reminder of how important it is for the U-S to support Israel.

The protest comes nine days after an Iranian court convicted 10 Iranian Jews of spying for Israel.

On Monday an Iranian court issued an international arrest warrant for an Iranian Jew accused of masterminding an Israeli espionage network.

According to Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency, the warrant said Eshaq Belanas headed a spy network working for the Zionist regime and that he had fled Iran for the United States in 1991.

The case against the other suspects has cast a pall over Iran's Jewish community and drawn concerned attention from the United States, Israel and elsewhere.

Both countries deny the suspects were spying.

Critics have questioned the court's fairness since the proceedings were closed to observers, there was no jury and the judge also acted as prosecutor.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This was a 'Star Chamber' proceeding, not in accordance with international norms, international observers were denied access most of the time, and we hope, we implore, we demand that there be a re-examination and re-opening of this process."
SUPER CAPTION: Richard Holbrooke, U-S Ambassador to the United Nations

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What has been done to them is an offense to any human being in the world who has a sense of decency and a sense of justice. We must speak up for those who no longer can speak until they are free."
SUPER CAPTION: Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"One of our premier alliances in the world is with Israel, and it is our responsibility and in our national interest, frankly, to make sure that it is an alliance that not just survives but thrives. And this is an important issue to speak out on not because of just Israel but because it is an issue of international injustice."
SUPER CAPTION: Representative Rick Lazio (Republican, New York)

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