An American citizen who came to Iran to visit relatives before the outbreak of the 12-day war is among five Jews still detained on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.
The man from New York is said to have left Iran 30 years ago and was among 35 Jews in the country detained on spy charges in the wake of the war with Israel.
He had traveled to Iran along with another Jew of Iranian origin who was also arrested but was since released on bail.
Israel’s Ynet quoted a legal representative involved in the case who remained anonymous, who said: ”They came to the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Homayoun Sameyah Najafabadi, the only Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, said Sunday that the charge of espionage has been formally dismissed against all Jewish detainees held in Tehran, and that the majority of those arrested are expected to be released soon.
“I am proud to announce that following a two-hour meeting with Mohammad Taghavi, the head of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, it was agreed that three of the five detained members of our community will be released on light bail,” Najafabadi wrote in a statement. “We hope the remaining two individuals in Tehran will also be freed soon.”
In addition to developments in the capital, Najafabadi also addressed the situation in Alborz province, where a larger group of Jewish Iranians had been detained in recent weeks.
“With regard to the eleven individuals arrested in Alborz province, I am pleased to report that... five women were released on bail last week,” he said. “Additionally, three men were freed from detention just a few days ago.”
He added that he would continue to pursue the release of the remaining detainees in the province. “Tomorrow, a meeting will be held with Ahmad Nowrouzi, the head of the judiciary in Alborz province, regarding the status of the remaining detainees.”
Najafabadi also said that efforts were underway in Shiraz concerning another community member who remains in custody. “With regard to a fellow citizen detained in Shiraz, I, along with the respected head of the Shiraz Jewish Association, am actively pursuing the matter and we hope to witness positive results soon.”
In the wake of the war, 35 Jews were arrested in Tehran and Shiraz, as well as the Alborz province, on suspicion of ties to Israel. The 10,000 strong community has long been pressured to publicly express loyalty to the Islamic Republic and is banned from communicating with relatives in Israel.
Their arrests were part of a mass crackdown, in which 2,000 Iranians were arrested, including members of other minorities including Azeris, Kurds, and members of the Baha'i faith, on suspicion of collaboration with Israel.
The US State Department’s spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, issued a warning last month, telling dual nationals or American citizens not to travel to Iran.
The State Department website still warns: “Americans, including Iranian-Americans and other dual nationals, have been wrongfully detained, taken hostage by the Iranian government for months, and years. The threat of detention is even greater today. Do not travel to Iran under any circumstances.”
