vice chairman of the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations.
"Without him, there's no case," said
Hoenlein, who has been closely moni-
toring developments taking place in
Iran. "Getting him to confess was cru-
cial."
Tefileen has not yet been sentenced,
though state television said he had
asked for clemency.

36 Months, 36,000 Miles
$1,000 Down. $1,559.12 Due at Signing

No Predictions

Hearings for the remaining 12 were
slated to continue during the next two
weeks.
Their fate is virtually impossible to
predict, said Hoenlein, as Iranian judi-
ciary officials have not yet produced
any evidence. At the same time, they
routinely flout Iranian law and demon-
strate a blatant disregard for interna-
tional public opinion, he said.
Iran has been universally condemned
for what is widely viewed as a show trial
against the 13 Jews.
The lone voice of support for Iran,
according to Iranian news services, has
been that of Nelson Mandela, the for-
mer president of South Africa.
Mandela was quoted as saying the
trial so far "appears fair and just," and
that outsiders should not meddle in
Iran's "internal affairs."
Why did Tefileen confess?
Observers believe that Tefileen, an
impoverished trader, may have been
facing other trumped-up charges, like
drug possession or smuggling.
He may have been offered leniency
if he confessed to the spying charge. Or
perhaps the freedom of his brother,
Omid, was dangled before him. Omid,
one of three accused Jews who was
released on bail in February, is likely to
be pardoned.
Either way, said Hoenlein, Tefileen
and the rest are innocent.
"If this doesn't give all the appear-
ances of a setup, I don't know what is,"
said Hoenlein.
Despite the Iranian authorities'
apparent self-satisfaction at having their
man, Tefileen's court-appointed lawyer,
Shirzad Rahmani, told the Associated
Press that the confession is not enough
to convict. Under Iranian law, Rahmani
noted, the state has to prove its case
with evidence.
"There may have been confessions,
there may have been an intention to
spy, there may have been several trips to
Israel, and there may have been pay-
ments," he told the AR "But if informa-
tion damaging to Iran and beneficial to
Israel was not actually exchanged, there
can be no charge of espionage." El

Allw iL P,*

)

1.4111&_
-

FIRST PAYMENT
WAIVED!

includes moonroof

•

30 Months, 30,000 Miles
$1,000 Down. $1,372.56 Due at Signing

Mon. & Thurs. till 9 pm
Tues., Wed., Fri. till 6 pm

THE POWER OF &

THE FUSION OF DESIGN &TECHNOLOGY

7100 Orchard Lake Road (at 14 1/2 Mile) • West Bloomfield

248.851.7200

'Plus all applicable taxes, title, plate with approved credit through GMAC. All rebates to dealer. Must be currently leasing a Cadillac. Photos may not represent actual vehicles.

5/5

2000

29

