MAIN SUSPECTS TOLD JOURNALIST THEY REALLY SPIED FOR ISRAEL
SHIRAZ (Iran) 3rd May (IPS) In a dramatic turn of events, two more Iranian Jews suspected to have spied for Israel and the United States admitted Wednesday almost freely to have collaborated with Israeli secret services, explaining to foreign reporters they were motivated primarily by religion and the promised land.
But an attorney for the defendants, Mr. Esma'il Naseri said even though the suspects have admitted to the charges in the closed-doors Islamic revolution Court, yet what they have said does not make them spy and their charges espionage.
He also criticised the television interview of Mr Hamid "Dany" Teflin, the prime suspect, saying this was against the laws.
"It is true that the suspects confessed to being spies and to going to Israel and to receiving money, but did the information they gave the Israelis consist of secrets? We believe not, because the judge is not showing any documentation or proof that secret material was handed over. If the court believes otherwise, it should show us the evidence," Mr. Naseri told journalists outside the court.
Hojjatoleslam Hosseinali Amiri, the Head of Fars province Justice Department said at a news briefing after the hearing that details about the activities of the espionage ring's would be available at a latter time.
But talking briefly to reporters in Shiraz, Mr. Teflin said he had accepted to speak to the State-run Television, reiterating no pressure had been applied on him to do that interview.
Mr. Teflin as well as two other defendants, Mr. Shahrokh Paknahad, a Hebrew teacher and Ramin Ne'matizadeh, also a teacher, said they had provided Israel with information on political and economical situation of Iran.
Asked why he had risked his life for what officials say was a $500 per month stipend from Israeli intelligence, he said: "There was financial need (but)...there were religious issues as well, because of the promised land, because over there they told me the promised land, Israel, was my real country."
Mr. Paknahad told reporters that Israel had betrayed them by promising to come to their aide if things go wrong.
"We were told by Israeli intelligence that if any of us under any circumstances were arrested, we must deny everything and they would help to get us out by bringing to bear international pressure.
"What I can say on behalf of myself and the others, is that we are unhappy and sad and repentant," he added.
According to Mr. Naseri, defendants admissions may be due to fatigue resulting from the long months they spent in prison.
Eyewitness present at the trial site in Shiraz told IPS that the public confessions by the three main suspects appear to give credit to the Iranian version of the case that the suspects had spied for Israel.
"Now it remains to define what one understands by espionage in a country where speaking to any foreigner, including a journalist, could be interpreted by the paranoid Islamic regime as spying", one Iranian observer pointed out.
Under Iranian law, the crime of espionage carries penalties ranging from six months in prison to death. ENDS JEWS TRIAL 3500