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Doc. 8709 2nd edition
26 April 2000
Trial of the thirteen Iranian Jews in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Written Declaration No. 301
2nd edition, originally tabled on 6 April 2000
This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it |
The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, welcome the results of the parliamentary elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the strengthening of the reform movement there.
They hope that this will result in a reinforcement of parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and the safeguarding of human rights in the country.
However, they are concerned about the forthcoming trial of 13 Iranian Jews, arrested almost a year ago by the Iranian authorities on charges of espionage, fearing that the true motivation for the arrests is that the accused are of the Jewish faith.
The trial is scheduled to commence on 13 April 2000, but unfortunately, according to information obtained recently, only three of the accused have been allowed to choose their own legal defence. It is, of course, obvious that lack of legal representation of their own choice could render the trial neither just nor fair and stand in contradiction to basic tenets of due legal process.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, but also the world community as a whole, will judge the new Iranian regime and the newly elected Iranian leadership according to their respect of human rights, including the conduct of this trial.
For these reasons the undersigned urge the authorities of the Republic of Iran and all those who are involved in the trial of the 13 Iranian Jews, to do whatever they can to provide a fair and open trial and allow legal representation of the defendants' choice.
Signed : 1
Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG
Agius, Malta, EPP/CD
Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG
Auken, Denmark, UEL
Bársony, Hungary, SOC
Bergqvist, Sweden, SOC
Besostri, Italy, SOC
Billing, Sweden, EDG
Björck, Sweden, EDG
Björnemalm, Sweden, SOC
Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR
Busic, Croatia, EPP/CD
Calner, Sweden, SOC
Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL
Cilevics, Latvia, SOC
Dees, Netherlands, LDR
Degn, Denmark, SOC
Derycke, Belgium, SOC
Dolazza, Italy, LDR
Einarsson, Sweden, UEL
Elo, Finland, SOC
Eörsi, Hungary, SOC
Esch, Sweden, EPP/CD
Faldet, Norway, SOC
Fernandez Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD
Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC
Granlund, Sweden, SOC
Gustafsson, Sweden, EPP/CD
Hegyi, Hungary, SOC
Ivanov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD
Ivanov, Estonia, SOC
Iwinski, Poland, SOC
Jackson, United Kingdom, EDG
Judd, United Kingdom, SOC
Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC
Leers, Netherlands, EPP/CD
Lekberg, Sweden, SOC
Lento, Italy, UEL
Lopez Henares, Spain, EPP/CD
Lörcher, Germany, SOC
Magnusson, Sweden, SOC
Mattei, France, LDR
Mikaelsson, Sweden, UEL
Mitterrand, France, SOC
Neuwirth, France, EDG
Norvoll, Norway, SOC
Ojuland, Estonia, LDR
Pinggera, Italy, EPP/CD
Polenta, Italy, EPP/CD
Ponsonby, United Kingdom, SOC
Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR
Rapson, United Kingdom, SOC
Raskinis, Lithuania, EPP/CD
Riet, Netherlands, LDR
Rigo, Italy, NR
Ringstad, Norway, LDR
Rise, Norway, EPP/CD
Robol, Italy, EPP/CD
Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD
Sadeikiené, Lituania, EPP/CD
Saele, Norway, EPP/CD
Schmied, Switzerland, LDR
Schmude, Germany, EPP/CD
Schreiner, France, EDG
Simonsen, Norway, NR
Sinka, Latvia, EDG
Soendergaard, Denmark, UEL
Stanoiu, Romania, SOC
Stepova, Czech Republic, SOC
Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC
Terpstra, Netherlands, LDR
Timmermans, Netherlands, SOC
Tiuri, Finland, EDG
Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD
Valleix, France, EDG
Wilkinson, United Kingdom, EDG
Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD
Zwerver, Netherlands, SOC
Gligoroski, “former Yug Rep of Macedonia, EPP/CD
Solonari, Moldova, SOC
_____________
Total = 80
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SOC: Socialist Group
EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
EDG: European Democratic Group
LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group
UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
NR: not registered in a group