The Islamic Republic’s Unknown Victims

While the international media and Western diplomats are focused on the threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, the Islamic Republic’s daily repression of its tiny Jewish minority has gone unnoticed. The deterioration of Iran’s official political discourse from vicious anti-Zionism into frightening traditional anti-Semitism places the lives of Iran’s 30,000 Jews in grave danger. Their perilous situation will most certainly worsen as the international community increases the political pressure on Iran.

Under Iran’s Islamic Sharia law, Jews are classed as dhimmis. As such they are excluded from public office and armed service. Moreover, Jews may not give evidence in the Islamic courts resulting in them being denied access to justice. They are routinely arrested and placed in jail for years without trial or worse. At least 13 Jews have been executed in Iran since the Islamic revolution, most of them for either religious reasons or their alleged connection to Israel.

Their second class status is symbolically reinforced by the fact that Jews are forbidden to ride horses or camels lest they be higher than Muslims, they are forbidden to build synagogues taller than mosques or to construct houses grander than those of their Islamic neighbors.

Before the 1979 Islamic revolution, Jewish life flourished in Iran. There were, for example, some 20 Jewish schools functioning throughout the country. However, in recent years, most of these have been closed down. In the remaining schools, Jewish principals have been replaced by Muslims and the curriculum imposed on students is strictly Islamic. Saturday is no longer recognized by ‘Jewish schools’ as the Jewish Sabbath and Jewish pupils are compelled to attend school on that day in contravention of Jewish law. Although there are still three synagogues in Teheran, there is no rabbi and the Beth Din (Jewish Religious Authority) has been disbanded.

These remaining 30,000 descendents of Iran’s ancient Jewish community are virtual prisoners in the Islamic Republic. Jews who apply for a passport to travel abroad must do so in a special bureau and are immediately put under surveillance. Furthermore, the government does not allow all members of a family to travel abroad at the same time to prevent Jewish emigration. Those Jews found attempting to leave are severely punished. In May 1998, for example, Jewish businessman Ruhollah Kakhodah-Zadeh was hanged in prison without a public charge or legal proceeding, allegedly for assisting Jews to emigrate.

But perhaps more chilling than Iran’s systemic oppression of its Jewish citizens, is the homicidal anti-Semitic rhetoric of its leaders and official media. In the writing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khomaini, Jews are described as ‘unclean’ along with urine, pigs and dogs. Iran's official government-controlled media often publishes the notorious anti-Semitic forgery the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Perhaps it is fitting that a state that is so Nazi like in its anti-Jewish propaganda has also become the greatest denier of the Nazi Holocaust.

Despite this dangerous environment the chairman of Iran's Jewish Council, Haroun Yashayaei, recently sent a letter to Iranian President Ahmadinejad harshly criticizing him for his anti-Semitic outbursts. In the letter Haroun Yashayaei writes ‘your remarks on the Holocaust have shocked the international community and caused fear in Iran's Jewish community’. Mr Yashayaei bravely declared that ‘the Holocaust was a fact of history and not a myth’ and accused the Iranian president of ‘ignorance and political prejudice’. In a country where criticism of the Islamic government is not tolerated, especially from Jews, these comments will certainly not be well received. I fear to imagine the terrible retribution the Islamic Republic will exact on its helpless Jewish minority for this courageous show of defiance.

Alert some local newspapers about these discriminatory and apartheid-like practices in Iran with letters to the Editor. I recommend the Sunday Sun ([email protected]) and the Sowetan ([email protected]).

Comments

[SnoopyTheGoon]

You may be right at all that, however Iranians could always quote BBC back at you:

"Iran's small Jewish community of about 30,000 is recognised by the Islamic Republic and there is even a Jewish member of parliament."

This come from:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4705246.stm

[Steve]

Ya...BBC could be quoted at us for most things. But its up to you whether you choose to buy into their attempts to bring balance and parity where there is none.

[Mike]

Yes it is true, there is a Jewish representative in the Iranian parliament. All minority groups are compelled by law to have 1 representative in parliament. But he is hardly free to express an opinion. In fact he is forced to publicly endorse the Iranian government’s policies towards Israel and the West. A house Jews as it were.

Jews may not run for parliament as ordinary citizens say as part of a Muslim list.

The constant denial of the fate of Iranian Jews is extremely disturbing. I believe it stems from a belief that if we keep quiet, the Iranian government may look more favorably on them. But we should no from history that silence in the face of evil only emboldens it.