Thank you for your responses to our previous Democracy Alert concerning the "Continued Imprisonment of Pro-Democracy Students in Iran". Please feel free to continue sending your responses to the World Movement for Democracy.

As a result of your feedback the following information was brought to our attention:

We have received information from the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League alerting the public to the impending trial of thirteen imprisoned Iranian Jews accused of spying for Israel and the United States. They were arrested almost a year ago. Among those being held are rabbis, religious teachers and community leaders. According to the two organizations and other sources, they have been arrested on trumped up charges of spying and for the violation of Islamic law. They face the death penalty.

We would like to alert participants in the World Movement that efforts are being made in the international community to demand that the Iranian government admit representatives of human rights organizations and free democracies into the courtroom to assure that a fair trial takes place.

For additional information and suggestions for follow-up activity go to the following:

Anti-Defamation League, www.adl.org.

"Arrest of 13 Iranian Jews"
Anti-Defamation League Action Recommendations.

"Trial of 13 Iranian Jews,"
Anti-Defamation League Backgrounder, April 13, 2000.

"Iranian Jews Held on Trumped Charges Must Be Freed,"
Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Anti-Defamation League, June 1999.

American Jewish Committee, www.ajc.org.

Human Rights Watch, www.hrw.org.

"Adjournment Welcomed in Trial of Iranian Jews:
Charges and Proceedings Should be Made Public and Bail Granted,"
Human Rights Watch, April 13, 2000.

"Trial of Iranian Jews Should be Postponed:
Defendants Have Right to Due Process,"
Human Rights Watch, April 13, 2000.

"Iran: Grant Jewish Prisoners Their Rights,"
Human Rights Watch, September 2, 1999.

Recent Press Articles:

"West Views Trial of Jews in Iran as Reform Test,"
Howard Schneider, Washington Post Foreign Service,
April 13, 2000, www.washingtonpost.com.

"On Trial in Iran," Op-ed, Washington Post,
April 13, 2000, www.washingtonpost.com.

"Iran Postpones Trial of 13 Jews Accused of Spying for Israel,"
Susan Sachs, New York Times,
April 14, 2000, www.nytimes.com.