BRIEF ON IRAN No. 407 Tuesday, May 7, 1996 Representative Office of The National Council of Resistance of Iran 3421 M Street NW #1032 Washington, DC 20007 New Iran Spy Law Aimed at Further Suppression of Opposition, Reuters, May 6 TEHRAN - Iran's parliament has passed a law imposing the death sentence for espionage and singling out agents working for the United States and Israel, a newspaper said on Monday. The daily Jomhuri Eslami said the law, approved on Sunday, requires the death sentence for anyone convicted of providing confidential or classified information or correspondence to foreigners, especially the United States or Israel, or to opposition groups fighting for the overthrow of the government. The law covers spying in military, political, security, economic, social and scientific fields, and is considerably tougher than a current law which imposes the death sentence only for military and security espionage.... Regime's Hooligans Attack Theater, Associated Press, May 6 TEHRAN - Dozens of Muslim activists wrecked a Tehran theater and assaulted moviegoers to protest a film that showed little girls dancing at a wedding, newspapers and witnesses reported Monday.... The militants tore down posters, smashed windows and wrecked seats, said reports in the Farsi-language press. The Hamshahri newspaper said an attack on the theater's staff and viewers started a stampede in which several people were trampled underfoot and a pregnant woman was pushed down a staircase.... Ever since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution brought a clerical government to power, women and girls must be covered from head to toe in public according to Muslim religious laws.... Although these religious laws have existed for years, they appear to be getting tighter... Human Rights in Iran, Voice of America, May 2 The United Nations Human Rights Commission has extended the mandate of its special investigator for Iran. In a resolution adopted last week in Geneva, the Commission criticized Iran for continued human rights abuses, including extensive use of torture and violations of women's rights. The resolution also cited the severe religious persecution in Iran, especially of members of the Baha'i faith. ... The Iranian government prohibits the Baha'is from practicing or teaching their faith, and prevents them from maintaining links with co-religionists abroad. Baha'is are also denied access to higher education and are blocked from working for the government.... Internal Disputes, Iran Zamin News Agency, May 5 According to daily Keyahn a number of parliamentary representatives are about to impeach four ministers, including: Ali- Mohammad Besharati, Minister of Interior, Gholam-Reza Forouzesh, Minister of Construction, Mohammd Gharazi, Minister of Post, Telegraph and Telephone, and Mohammad Najafi, Minister of Education ... The request for the impeachment has been presented to the speaker of parliament. Iran Bread Prices Rise by Up to 50 Percent, Reuters, May 6 TEHRAN - Bread prices in Iran have risen by up to 50 percent in the past week, residents and newspapers said on Monday. Residents said bakers raised prices by 30 to 50 percent, putting prices of various types of bread at 35-300 rials (1.2-10 U.S. cents) a loaf. The daily minimum wage in Iran is 6,907 rials. The Commerce Ministry, in a statement quoted by the daily Iran on Monday, confirmed increases of about 30 percent... Bread is a main staple of the Iranian diet... Heart Attack Among Youths Increases Up to 50% Annually, Radio Israel, May 1 Iran's Minister of Health, Alireza Marandi, citing figures and surveys regarding the rise of cardiac problems said that the pattern showed the age of such patients has decreased. Marandi said that the number of cardiac patients is increasing by 30 to 50 percent annually... Meanwhile, he said Iran would not transfer abroad any cardiac patient for treatment.