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DATE=6/11/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250518 TITLE=IRAN / SPIES (L) BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IN IRAN, WORSHIPERS AT FRIDAY'S PRAYERS AT TEHRAN UNIVERSITY HAVE CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF 13 IRANIAN JEWS CHARGED WITH SPYING FOR ISRAEL. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU (IN CAIRO) THAT ISRAELI OFFICIALS DENY THE ACCUSATIONS. TEXT: THE 13 IRANIAN JEWS INCLUDE TWO RABBIS AND SEVERAL TEACHERS. THEY WERE ARRESTED LAST MARCH IN THE SOUTHERN IRANIAN CITIES OF SHIRAZ AND ISFAHAN. THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH SPYING FOR ISRAEL, AND UNDER A LAW PASSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. ISRAELI OFFICIALS DENY THAT THE JEWS EVER SPIED FOR ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF WESTERN GOVERNMENTS HAVE CALLED FOR THEIR RELEASE. HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY THE 13 ACCUSED ARE TO BE TRIED IN A REVOLUTIONARY COURT IN WHICH LAWYERS AND OBSERVERS ARE FORBIDDEN. HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS OFTEN CRITICIZE THESE COURTS FOR FAILING TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FAIR JUDICIAL PROCESS. TWO PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED OF SPYING TWO YEARS AGO IN IRAN AND WERE HANGED. THE HEAD OF THE IRANIAN JUDICIARY FRIDAY SAID THE 13 ACCUSED WOULD RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL UNDER IRANIAN LAW AND IF CONVICTED WOULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY. IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS REACTED TO INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM OF THE ARRESTS, CALLING IT IRRESPONSIBLE. THERE ARE MORE THAN 20-THOUSAND JEWS LIVING IN IRAN, ONE OF THE LARGEST SUCH POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. A NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES -- INCLUDING JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND ZOROASTRIANS -- ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE IRANIAN STATE, WHICH SAYS THEY ARE FREE TO PRACTICE THEIR RELIGION. (SIGNED) NEB/SB/GE 11-Jun-99 9:11 AM EDT (1311 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .