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Iran: Treatment of Muslims with Jewish ancestry

The Research Directorate found only one case where the Jewish ancestry of a Muslim Iranian was a focus of news reports among sources consulted for this Response. RFE/RL referred to an article published in the Tehran Times on 21 June 1999 that specified that one Saeed Emami was "of Jewish descent" (28 June 1999). Emami, according to several reports, was a former Ministry of Intelligence and Security official who was arrested in June 1999 in connection with a series of murders in 1998 and who later committed suicide while imprisoned (ibid.; Tehran Times 22 June 1999; ibid. 21 June 1999; Zanan Dec. 1999). According to RFE/RL

There were also attempts to insinuate a linkage with Ministry of Intelligence and Security official Said Emami [with the Israeli intelligence service Mossad]. The 21 June "Tehran Times" editorialized that Emami was "born into a family of Jewish descent. He went to the United States and established links with the Jewish Agency" (28 June 1999).

An article published in Zanan [Women] in December 1999 also reported that the phrase "of Jewish origin" was published in the Tehran Times; however, a search of both the Tehran Times and Salam Iran archive for the newspaper fails to find an article with this phrase. A 22 June 1999 Tehran Times report describes Emami's connection to Judaism as follows:

A source who had complete information about the family background of Said Emami said, "His uncle was a military official and he also served as a military attache at an Iranian embassy abroad during the Shah's regime." "You know that the military personnel during the Shah's regime had definitely a direct or indirect link with the United States and Israel," the source said.

Iran News noted that with respect to Emami's reported Jewish origins, a "government spokesman ... was unaware of [it] ... and added that Jewish lineage is not a crime" (22 June 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Iran News. 22 June 1999. "Mohajerani Supports Nateq Over Relations with Egypt." <http://www.salamiran.org/Media/IranNews/990622.htm> [Accessed 31 May 2002]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 28 June 1999. Iran Report. "Behind the 'Israeli Spies' Case." <http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/1999/06/26-280699.html> [Accessed 31 May 2002]

Tehran Times. 22 June 1999. "More Information on Infiltrator of Information Ministry." <http://80.75.0.12/Detailview.asp?Keyword=emami&Da=6/22/1999&Cat=3&Num=5> [Accessed 31 May 2002]

_____. 21 June 1999. "Mastermind Behind Suspicious Murders Commits Suicide." <http://80.75.0.12/Detailview.asp?Keyword=emami&Da=6/21/1999&Cat=2&Num=8> [Accessed 31 May 2002]

Zanan [Tehran]. December 1999. No. 58. Nahid Mousavi. "A Review of Serial Murders." <http://www.netiran.com/Htdocs/Clippings/Dpolitics/991228XXDP03.html> [Accessed 31 May 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports (1999-2001)

Iran Bulletin

Iran News Watch

The Iranian

Middle East Watch

Net Iran

Salam Iran

United Kingdom, Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Iran Assessment 2002.

Virtual Iran

World News Connection

Search engines:

All the Web

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Topics: Jew,