Iranian Imam in Friday prayer demands hanging of Jewish detainees charged with espionage

At Tehran University, Imam of Friday prayer Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati called for sentencing 13 Jewish detainees to death in Iran. The detainees are accused of espionage for the good of Israel.

During Friday sermon yesterday, Jannati said that hanging is the sanction dictated by law for espionage.

Jannati, who is also secretary of the Guardian Council in Iran, criticized the international responses to these arrests, saying that there will be no bargain on this issue.

He also said that the suspects' religions was not the reason for their arrest, but they were detained because of spying for the good Israel. He added that they were collecting information and conveying it to Israel through Turkey, describing their work as treason for the people.

The Iranian penal code that began to be clearly applied in 1996 dictates that people who spy for the USA and Israel should be sentenced to death.