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Iranian immigrants warned not to visit homeland

Following alleged espionage by Iranian-born Israeli, Central Organization of Iranian Immigrants in Israel urges community not to visit Islamic republic despite relatives left behind. Spokesman protests against social stigma surrounding Iranian-born community

“Iranian Jews should give up visiting their homeland," David Mutai, Spokesman of the Central Organization of Iranian Immigrants in Israel said Sunday.

 

Mutai believes that Iranian-born Israelis visiting their homeland may create complications for them and for the country as he urges them to stop. At the same time, Mutai protests against the tarnishing of Iranian immigrants to Israel.

 

The news of a 55-year-old Iranian-born Israeli citizen being arrested by Israeli authorities on suspicion of spying for Iran was cleared for publication Sunday. The indictment includes counts of contacting a foreign agent, relaying information to an enemy state, theft and fraudulently obtaining goods.

 

In his interrogation, the man admitted to visiting the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul during a stay in Turkey on numerous occasions, during which he agreed to cooperate with Iranian intelligence.

 

According to Mutai, this new affair has further damaged the reputation of the Iranian community in Israel.

 

“This affair does little to maintain the Iranian community’s dignity. Given that this man did engage in espionage, and despite the severity of his actions, he does not in any way represent the Iranian-born Israelis.”

 

The spokesman further explains that many of the community’s members have left relatives back in Iran, which is why they continue to visit the hostile country. However, since Iran has been declared an enemy state as of last year, the law dictates that an Israeli citizen going to Iran could stand trial and be convicted for a prison sentence of up to four years.

 

Iranian-born Jews may encounter Iranian espionage agents as soon as they arrive at the Iranian Embassy asking for entry permits.

 

“Sometimes the authorities exploit people's weakness in not having seen their relatives or visited their homeland for many years,” says Mutai. “I object to that and believe that we should not give those Iranian revolutionists the power to do that.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.26.08, 23:22
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