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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jttmab who wrote (217487)	2/10/2007 11:05:59 AM
From: jttmab	Respond to of 281500

IRAN AND JEWS In December 2006, Iran hosted a conference to review the existence and degree of Hitler's World War II Holocaust against the Jewish people. Earlier in the year, Iran held a contest judging internationally submitted cartoons of the Holocaust in an attempt to counter worldwide attention over the depictions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in a Danish newspaper in September 2005. Despite the anti-Semitic overtones of Ahmadinejad's activities, Iran's regime officially condemns anti-Semitism by carefully distinguishing between "Zionists" "Israelis" and "Jews." Zionists - those who support the creation and support of Israel. Israelis - those who live in Israel Jews - those who profess the Jewish faith. History of Jews in Iran Jews have been present in Iran for more than 2,500 years since the Persian leader, Cyrus the Great, released the Jews from captivity in Babylon (present-day Iraq) in 537 BC. Today, there are more Jews living in Iran than in any other country in the Middle East aside from Israel. Before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran and Israel had very close relations. In 1960, Iran was the first Islamic country to recognize Israel and Israel, in turn, imported 75% of its oil from Iran. The relationship between the two countries changed drastically after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In direct opposition to the fallen Shah, Iran's new leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini deemed the United States and Israel enemies (the U.S. was labeled the "Great Satan," Israel, the "Little Satan") establishing the country's policy of deep vilification of the Jewish state. The Revolution also triggered a mass exodus of Jews (especially the wealthy) causing the Jewish-Iranian population to drop from 100,000 before 1979 to about 40,000 (about 70,000 Persian Jews had already migrated to Israel after its creation in 1948) Today there are about 25,000 Jews living in Iran. Jews in Iran Today Christians and Jews in Iran are protected "people of the book" and officially recognized as religious minorities under Iran's 1979 Islamic Constitution. They are allowed to practice their religions as long as they don't proselytize, and have been granted representation in Iran's parliament. There are about 100 synagogues in Iran as well as kosher restaurants, Jewish hospitals, cultural centers, libraries and Jewish cemeteries. Jews, like Christians, are even granted some freedoms not extended to Iranian Muslims. Jews, for example, can possess small amounts of alcohol, attend co-ed Jewish schools and dance at weddings. Discrimination Although Persian Jews live relatively free lives in Iran, there are cases of bureaucratic discrimination. Jews are prohibited from serving as officers in the military, for example and may not hold some high governmental positions. Locally, some Jews complain that they are passed over for promotions or have a harder time getting visas and other official documents. One of the biggest objections is the requirement that Jewish schools must hold classes on the Sabbath (Iran's "weekend" begins Thursday and lasts until Friday night) - the day observant Jews are supposed to rest. Jews are also at risk of being labeled collaborators or spies for Israel, a crime that can be punishable by death. Although many Jews have family and friends living in Israel (Israel is home to about 75,000 Persian Jews, some, like President Moshe Katsav holding high governmental positions) contact with the Jewish state is banned. To skirt the ban, letters are routed through England and travel is conducted through neutral countries like Turkey and Cyprus. Iranian Jews who held government jobs or key posts in the oil industry were targeted because of their positions during the revolution. Many affluent Jews also fled to the United States and Israel when the new Islamic government instituted large-scale confiscation of private wealth. ** After their release from captivity in Babylon, many Jews settled in Isfahan. The city was once known as Dar-al-Yahud or "City of Jews." enisen.com