Jailed Iranian Jews pardoned

The men, who were serving jail terms of between eight and nine years, were granted an early release by Iran's supreme ruler Ayatollah Khamenei.

They were among a group of 10 Iranian Jews imprisoned after a closed-door trial in July, 2000, sparking international condemnation.

The prisoners - Javid Beit Yaqub, 42, Faramarz Kashi, 32, and Shahrokh Paknahad, 24 - were freed to mark the occasion of the birthday of Imam Mahdi, a Shia saint.

"Their release has brought happiness to Iran's small Jewish community," the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed Jewish leader as saying.

'Zionist spies'

Thirteen Jews were arrested along with eight Muslims in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz in 1999.

They were charged with aiding the "Zionist regime" - a term used by Iran to describe the State of Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognise.

The men - and Israel - denied the charges, which observers said were politically motivated as part of a power struggle between Iranian conservatives and moderate reformers.

The trial was conducted in a revolutionary court, without a jury and where the judge is also the prosecutor.

Three Jews and six of the Muslims were cleared, while the convicted men were sentenced to jail terms of between four and 13 years.

Two of the jailed Jews have already been released after serving their sentences, while the five others remain behind bars.

Trial denounced

Human rights groups condemned the trial and the international community urged Iran to overturn the sentences.

In August, the only Jewish member of the Iranian parliament appealed to Ayatollah Khamenei to pardon the remaining jailed Jews before the Jewish New Year in September but his request was rejected.

Reports suggest the Jews still in jail will be released and the rest of their prison term changed to a suspended sentence.

The case cast a spotlight on the precarious position of Iran's 25,000-strong Jewish community - the largest in the Middle East outside Israel.

Iranian Jews are allowed some measure of religious freedom, but, like all Iranians, are forbidden any contact with Israel.