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Iran: Update of IRN25152.E of 15 October 1996 on the situation of Jews

According to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, "[t]here is a major difference between the numbers given for the Jewish population" in Iran (2002). It cites the 2000 American Jewish Year Book as indicating that this population was 12,500 and the 2000 Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedoms as reporting a population of 40,000 Jews in Iran (ibid.). Other estimations include one by the Iranian Ambassador to Jordan who claimed the Iranian Jewish community had 150, 000 members (The Star 4-10 Apr. 2002) and the Sunday Telegraph which estimated this number to be 20,000 (17 Sept. 2000). A number of reports specify the Jewish population was 30,000 (RFE/RL 3 July 2000; The Scribe: The Journal of Babylonian Jewry July 2000; The Jewish Journal 5 May 2000).

With respect to the treatment of the Jewish community, a 1998 article published by Christian Science Monitor reported that, while "[p]rivately, there are grumbles about discrimination, much of it [is] of a social and bureaucratic nature (3 Feb. 1998). The article notes however, that Jews are "an officially recognized religious minority under Iran's 1979 Islamic Constitution ... [and are] allowed to practice their religion freely, provided they do not proselytize" (ibid.). In a 2000 interview with RFE/RL, Professor Amnon Netzer of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem stated that "[c] ompared to their Muslim brethren and compared to the Bahais and other religious and ethnic sects, the Jews of Iran during the Islamic Republic have not been treated worse than others" (3 July 2000).

Among freedoms that Jews reportedly enjoy are "certain rights of self-administration [and] Jewish burial and divorce laws are accepted by Islamic courts" (Christian Science Monitor 3 Feb. 1998). Furthermore, Jews "are not legally forbidden from employment in the government sector ... are accepted into universities, but are usually not given access to post-graduate studies" (The Iranian 12 May 2000). After his election as President in 1997, some viewed Mohammad Khatami's "relative pragmatism and his quest for substantial reform" as leading to "some relaxation in statements regarding Jews [although] the conservative press continued its critical tone, even when discussing purely Jewish issues" (The Stephen Roth Institute 2001).

The BBC reported in the wake of the 1999 arrests of 13 Iranian Jews and the announcement by the judiciary that they could be executed for espionage that President Khatami

sought to reassure the Iranian Jews and the international community that religious minorities are safe in Iran and that he is personally responsible for their protection.

But despite Mr. Khatami's reconciliation efforts, conservative newspapers have hailed the Iranian intelligence service for dismantling what they describe as a dangerous espionage network (14 July 1999).

Iranian-Jewish dissident Frank Nikbakht of the Los Angeles-based Committee for Religious Minority Rights in Iran noted that "there had been a noticeable increase in the amount of anti-Semitism coming from the Iran press beginning around 1993" (Jewish Journal 5 May 2000). According to Anti-Semitism Worldwide 2000/1:

Two recent developments have had a further impact on the life of the Jews. First, growing tensions within the ruling élite and the conservatives' crackdown on the reform camp after the Majlis (Parliament) elections of spring 2000 resulted in the adoption of a harder line in the country. Second, and more importantly, the al-Aqsa intifada, which broke out in late September 2000, led to harsher statements against Israel and Zionism, as well as to an increase in anti-Jewish expressions. In addition, the arrest of 13 Jews charged with spying for Israel, and the conviction and imprisonment of ten of them, continued to instill a sense of insecurity among the Jews of Iran.

... Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein went further, portraying Iranian Jewry as cut off from the rest of the Jewish world and living in constant fear. The situation in Iran, he said, "has deteriorated sharply for the Jews." While it is "an overall deterioration," he said, it particularly affects the Jews, "who are very depressed and very fearful" (The Stephen Roth Institute 2001).

Although in an August 2000 interview Jewish Majlis representative Morris Motamed stated that "life in the Jewish community in Iran has not changed from that of the pre-revolutionary period" (Iran News 28 Aug. 2000), in a December 2000 presentation to the Majlis, " in extraordinarily critical tones," he

lashed out at the widespread discrimination against non-Muslims. He specified discrimination in academic education, government recruitment, job promotion, restrictions on Hebrew instruction and discrimination in criminal law (The Stephen Roth Institute 2001).

Motamed also stated that "legal restrictions such as heritage, judicial issues and blood money ... which existed before the revolution, has hurt the Jewish community" (Iran News 28 Aug. 2000).

According to Professor Amnon Netzer, since the advent of the Islamic Republic in 1979, "more than 12 Iranian Jews [have been] executed in Iran, most of them, perhaps all of them, because of ties to the [Shah's] royal court and what [the Islamic Republic] called Zionism or some economic issues" (RFE/RL 3 July 2000). However, three reports stated that the number of Jews executed by the Islamic regime has been at least 17 persons (ADL 17 Apr. 2001; Canadian Jewish News 21 Oct. 1999; New Jersey Jewish News 1 July 1999) including two in 1997 and one in 1998 (CNS 8 June 1999).

A history of Jews in Iran published in 2002 and hosted by the Jewish Virtual Library stated:

Despite the official distinction between "Jews," "Zionists," and "Israel," the most common accusation the Jews encounter is that of maintaining contacts with Zionists. The Jewish community does enjoy a measure of religious freedom but is faced with constant suspicion of cooperating with the Zionist state and with "imperialistic America" - both such activities are punishable by death. Jews who apply for a passport to travel abroad must do so in a special bureau and are immediately put under surveillance. Again, the Jews live under the status of dhimmi, with the restrictions imposed on religious minorities.

...

The Islamization of the country has brought about strict control over Jewish educational institutions. Before the revolution, there were some 20 Jewish schools functioning throughout the country. In recent years, most of these have been closed down. In the remaining schools, Jewish principals have been replaced by Muslims. In Teheran there are still three schools in which Jewish pupils constitute a majority. The curriculum is Islamic, and Persian is forbidden as the language of instruction for Jewish studies (American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise).

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

American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. 2002. Jewish Virtual Library. "The Jews of Iran." <http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/anti-semitism/iranjews.html> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

Anti-Defamation League (ADL). 17 April 2001. International Affairs Division. "Trial of 13 Iranian Jews." <http://www.adl.org/backgrounders/Iranian_Jews.html> [Accessed 30 May 2002]

Although dated 17 April 2001, this article cites a number of events occurring after that date, the latest being 16 January 2002 suggesting that it has been updated since its original publication (ADL).

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 14 June 1999. "Khatami: Jews are Safe in Iran." <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_368000/ 368234.stm> [Accessed 30 May 2002]

The Canadian Jewish News [Toronto]. 21 October 1999. Julia Goldman. "Europe Leads Efforts to Free Iranian Jews." <http://www.cjnews.com/pastissues/99/oct21-99/international/int3.htm> [Accessed 30 May 2002]

Christian Science Monitor. 3 February 1998. Michael Theodoulou. "Jews in Iran Describe a Life of Freedom Despite Anti-Israel Actions by Tehran." <http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/ 1998/02/03/intl/intl.3.html> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

Cybercast News Service (CNS) [Alexandria, Virginia]. 8 June 1999. Patrick Goodenough. "Spy Charges Show Signs of Iranian Power Struggle." <http://www.cnsnews.com> [Accessed 30 May 2002]

Iran News [Internet version, in English]. 28 August 2000. "Jewish Deputy on Situation of Jews in Iran, Attendance at Millennium Conference." (FBIS-NES-2000-0828 28 Aug. 2000/WNC)

The Iranian. 12 May 2000. Massoume Price. "Ups and (Mostly) Downs: The History of Jews in Iran." <http://www.iranian.com/History/2000/May/Jews> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

The Jewish Journal. 5 May 2000. David Evanier. "Breaking the Silence: Frank Nikbakht and the Iranian Jews." <http://www.jewishjournal.com/old/nikbakht.5.5.0.htm> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

The New Jersey Jewish News. 1 July 1999. David M. Mallach. "What We Should Do about the Jews in Iran Accused of Spying." <http://www.njjewishnews.com/issues/7_1_99/mw/commen/text/story4.html . [Accessed 30 May 2002]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 3 July 2000. Charles Recknagel and Azam Gorgin. "Iran: The History of Jews in Persia/Iran." <http://www.rferl.org/nca/ features/2000/07/F.RU.000703124835.html> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

The Scribe: The Journal of Babylonian Jewry. July 2000. No. 73. <http/www.dangoor.com/73page125.html> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

The Scribe is an "online publication by the Exilarch's Foundation for Jews of Babylonian origin worldwide" (Yahoo.com n.d.).

The Star [Amman, Jordan]. 4-10 April 2002. Marwan Asmar and Ibtisam Awadat. "Iran's Ambassador to Jordan Nosratollah Tajik." <http://star.arabia.com/article/0,5596,150_4010,00.html> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

The Stephen Roth Institute (Tel Aviv). 2001. Anti-Semitism Worldwide 2000/1. "Iran." <http://www.tau.ac.il/Anti-Semitism/asw2000-1/iran.htm> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

Sunday Telegraph. 17 September 2000. Con Coughlin. "Iranian Agents Suspected as Jews Disappear." <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2 Fnews%2F2000%2F09%2F17%2Fwiran17.xml> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

Yahoo.com. n.d. Yahoo! Directory. <http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/ Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Judaism/News_and_Media/Magazines> [Accessed 29 May 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

B'nai Brith Canada. Iran Report. Jewish Captives Document Index

Country Reports

Google Web Directory, Judaism in Iran

Human Rights Watch

Jewish Post

Jewish Virtual Library

Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV)

United Kingdom. Immigration and Nationalities Directorate. Iran Assessment (2002)

World News Connection

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