This would be like the Jews of the Persian Empire being forced to mourn Haman.
“Iranian Jews compelled to mourn Nasrallah’s death amid oppressive climate,” by Benjamin Weinthal, Iran International, October 2, 2024:
Jews in Iran are being pressured by the authorities to publicly mourn the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, known for his antisemitic ideology.
Nasrallah, head of Iran’s largest proxy, made multiple statements against Jews and Israelis over the years, most famously declaring that “If we searched the entire world for a person more cowardly, despicable, weak and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew. Notice, I do not say the Israeli.”
The Lebanese Shia militant leader also said in 2002 that “If they [the Jews] all gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.”
Rabbi Pini Dunner, from the Beverly Hills Synagogue which has a huge Iranian community, told Iran International that “Iran’s Jewish community lives in fear of persecution if they don’t align themselves with the regime’s warped views.”
The community, the Middle East’s largest outside Israel with around 5-8,000 remaining, was compelled to issue a statement criticizing Israel and America for the killing of the Hezbollah leader.
“What choice do they have? It tells you everything you need to know about how unsafe and insecure the Jewish community feels in Iran,” he added.
Tehran-born Beni Sabti, who now lives in Israel, first located the pro-Nasrallah notices on Telegram from the leadership of the Jewish communities in Iran. The Jewish community of Isfahan wrote that it “congratulates and condoles the martyrdom of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, who was martyred in the brutal operation of the Zionist regime.”…
somehistory says
They may be forced to say it and to write it, but they can’t be forced to actually think it and to mean it.
Tony Rice says
Crocodile tears, I am sure.
St Croix says
Pretty sure it was here on JW that I saw a photo a few years ago, of Jews in Persia sitting down at a meal and the Ayatollah was there, and everyone smiling? Does anyone remember it? I’m pretty sure it was Ayatollah. I was shocked. The propaganda was saying, “oh, we aren’t trying to exterminate the Jews! See, they live well here in Iran, in freedom!” And the rest of his spiel was something along the lines of “not all Jews are pesky zionists, as you can plainly see” or something to that effect.
I notice in the quote by Nasrallah, “…notice, I did not say the Israeli.” The “zionist” has cojones, is that what he meant? Instead of the Jews in Iran, who have the boot of the oppressor on their necks. An image that conjures up Communism, now that I think of it. They are all the same, these power-hungry dictatorial fiends, no matter the ideology. Globalists are the same. Just a little more subtle. A little. At least at the outset. Like the Muslims; at the outset, before they assume the power position, as Mohammed said, “be conciliatory, and bide your time.”
Eric says
Why are there any Jews in Iran?
marc says
Only a few who prove loyalty to the regime are ever allowed to leave, they will never let a whole family leave, those left behind would suffer.
In the Shahs days there was a thriving Jewish community there, now they are miserable Dhimis.