SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY REDUCTION IN SENTENCES FOR 10 IRANIAN JEWS

Press Release
SG/SM/7557

SECRETARY-GENERAL ENCOURAGED BY REDUCTION IN SENTENCES FOR 10 IRANIAN JEWS

Following is a statement issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has been following closely the case of the Iranian citizens who were convicted last July by a court in the city of Shiraz. He is encouraged by the announcement today that an appeals court has now reduced the jail sentences for the 10 Iranian Jews and that the process continues. He hopes that further steps to alleviate the plight of these citizens will be considered in accordance with Islamic traditions of compassion and mercy.

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