Ron Arad. Missing since 1986
Iran jails 'collaborators' with Israel
Prosecutor says civilians who contacted Ron Arad foundation received up to six years in prison
An Iranian court has convicted a number of people of collaborating with the Born to Freedom Foundation, which promises monetary rewards for information about missing navigator Ron Arad, and sentenced them to up to six years in prison, the Shiraz regional prosecutor said Tuesday.
Jaber Banshi added that a number of cases were still being investigated, but gave no further details about the identities of those involved. He says a number of suspects have not been arrested yet.
Banshi reiterated a claim by Iranian officials, by which the foundation is enlisting spies for Israel. He said the website was advertizing itself on "satellite networks" in the country. Born to Freedom promises a $10 million reward to anyone supplying information that would lead to finding Ron Arad.
The prosecutor said Iranian citizens interested in the reward logged onto the website but that the foundation had not paid anything yet.
"A number of citizens made contact with the foundation in order to collect the reward," he said. "Police records have been filed on charges of harming national security through espionage for the Jerusalem regime of occupation."
Banshi also called on Iranians who contacted the foundation to report the violation to the authorities in the coming month and receive in exchange an "Islamic pardon" in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic revolution next month.
Last week Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi warned the country's citizens against contacting Born to Freedom, claiming that Iranian youths were being led on by the website. He also warned that severe punishment awaited those who collaborated with the website, which he said was a Mossad tool for enlisting spies.
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