Iran executes 'Mossad spy

[SlowwHand]

I read this and the first thing I think of is, what did this man do wrong? Passing on information on civilian energy production?
What am I missing here? It's a peaceful operation only, let's hang the guy. I don't get it. Can someone convince me that maybe Iran is being somewhat less than truthful?

Ali Ashtari was accused of giving Israel information on Iran's security and energy programmes [AP]




An Iranian electronics salesman accused of passing information about the country's atomic energy programme to the Israelis has been hanged, a spokesman for the judiciary has said.

Ali Ashtari, whose execution was announced on Saturday, was hanged on November 17, after being sentenced to death in June by a revolutionary court in Tehran.

A judiciary-issued statement said Ashtari had been working with Mossad - Israel's foreign intelligence service - for three years before he was arrested in 2006.

Reports published in the Iranian media at the time of Ashtari's arrest described him as a 43-year-old manager of a company selling communications and security equipment to Iran's government.

Israel denied any knowledge of the case when Ashtari was detained.

Televised 'confession'

In an Iranian state television broadcast aired on Saturday, Ashtari appeared to be confessing to espionage charges during his trial.

He said: "I made a mistake, I was afraid to go to the ministry of intelligence. This fear caused me to choose the wrong ways. I could not choose any correct way, all the roads that I chose were deads ends.

"Please pay attention to my confession and be aware. Don't play with your lives. See what's happened to me and learn a lesson. Do not repeat my mistakes."

Ashtari was given "special equipment" to contact Mossad which he collected during visits to foreign companies at exhibitions abroad, the statement said.

'Terrorists' arrested

Tensions have been mounting between the two states as Israel has accused Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons.

Iran has said its nuclear aims are restricted to civilian energy production only.

Ashtari's conviction for Israeli-linked espionage is believed to be the first in Iran for almost a decade.

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, also reported on Saturday that four "terrorists" with "Zionist equipment" had been arrested in west Iran.

Tehran said the four were planning to carry out assasinations but did not reveal when they were detained.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/11/20081122181853936209.html

[Imran Siddiqui]

If he was passing on information to Mossad, of any nature, than he's a spy. In the US execution is a punishment for espionage (though we don't use it)

[SlowwHand]

No, that would mean tourists couldn't go anywhere and talk about any current events back home. "Nope. Sorry. Can't tell you one thing about anything. Nope, sorry. No questions about any opportunities. No general information on the aeather. Zip."

[Imran Siddiqui]

So you think if you go somewhere and then talk about current events among your friends back home, that's the same as passing sensitive information (there is a reason only authorized personnel are allowed in even civilian nuclear reactors) along to the C.I.A.? WTF?!!

[SlowwHand]

Current events back home to th eland you're visiting. People just interested. I doubt that anyone that matters thinks the average U.S. citizen knows enough to ask anything else. Just being friendly, exchanging cultures. You know?

[Elok]

If some fellow named Ahmad were caught sending blueprints for a nuclear reactor to al-Qaeda, we'd all be for his very long-term imprisonment (at the least).

[DinoDoc]

Hell I still think we should have executed Jonathan Pollard.

[TCO]

send them Pollard

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Current events back home to th eland you're visiting. People just interested. I doubt that anyone that matters thinks the average U.S. citizen knows enough to ask anything else. Just being friendly, exchanging cultures. You know?

So you believe that's akin with giving sensitive information to a foriegn state security agency?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Hell I still think we should have executed Jonathan Pollard.

QFT

[Darius871]

Slaughtermeyer in 3...2...1...

[Deity Dude]

From the story it's unclear what he did. IF he discussed/passed along non-confidential information I don't see it as a problem. There is a difference between gathering information and espionage.

Sending a phone book or newspaper back home is full of information but none is classified.

[SlowwHand]

Exactly right. Iran isn't doing anything, except firing off missles. Why should they be concerned?

[Sirotnikov]

Iranian security continue their successful strike against foreign spies:

Iranian Police Smash Squirrel Spy Ring
4:32pm UK, Thursday July 12, 2007

Police in Iran are reported to have taken 14 squirrels into custody - because they are suspected of spying.


The rodents were found near the Iranian border allegedly equipped with eavesdropping devices.

The reports have come from the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

When asked about the confiscation of the spy squirrels, the national police chief said: "I have heard about it, but I do not have precise information."

The IRNA saidthat the squirrels were kitted out by foreign intelligence services - but they were captured two weeks ago by police officers.

A Foreign Office source told Sky News: "The story is nuts."

But if true, this would not be the first time animals have been used to spy.

During World War II the Allied Forces used pigeons to fly vital intelligence out of occupied France.

More recently, US marines stationed in Kuwait have used chickens as a low-tech chemical detection system.

And it is well documented that dolphins have been used to seek out underwater mines.

It is even claimed that M15 once planned to recruit a team of specially-trained gerbils as a secret weapon to sniff out spies.

Re: thread topic - I can't help but feel sorry for the guy, guilty or not

[C0ckney]

A Foreign Office source told Sky News: "The story is nuts."

tehehe