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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: World Wide Solidarity Gatherings for Iran 10 July 10, 2000 – New York, NY – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, an umbrella organization representing 122 local Jewish community relations councils and 13 national agencies, joined today with communities around the world in calling for the immediate release of the ten Jewish men imprisoned in Iran. Speaking at the solidarity gathering held in New York City, JCPA Chair Dr. Leonard Cole spoke of his emotional discussion with family members of the imprisoned Jews and called on the Iranian government to immediately release these innocent men. "True justice, whether in the eyes of God or the hearts of men, can never mean that innocent people, Jews or anyone else, are declared guilty of crimes they never committed. These ten poor souls should be released and allowed to rejoin their families without delay. To the Iranian authorities we say: Do what is right. Do what is just. Free these men who have done no harm to anyone and whose only offense is that they are Jews. As long as even one of these innocent men remains in prison we will not be silent." The Jewish Council for Public Affairs sponsored today’s New York gathering along with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the New York Jewish Community Relations Council, United Jewish Communities, and UJA-Federation of New York. In addition to the solidarity gathering held in New York, gatherings are being held across the country, including in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, Omaha, London, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Moscow and Paris. Other communities are planning to hold similar events in the coming days.
# # # The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the public affairs arm of the organized American Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations. |
