Understanding Iran: The line between Judaism and Zionism
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:36:04 GMT
By Dex A. Eastman, Press TV, Tehran
Iranian Jews, Yousefabad Synagogue, Tehran
Home to the largest Jewish population in the Middle East after
Palestine, Iran has demonstrated itself to be a country adamantly
opposed to anti-Semitism.
Turning the pages of history, one can see the persecution of Jews
throughout the world. Some claim that Jewish heritage was not what gave
impetus to their plight; there are others who blame widespread racism
and the absence of a Jewish state as the main culprits.
While those who now boast of being at the forefront of the enlightened
world themselves have cavernous archives of ethnic cleansing, genocide
and anti-Semitism, Iran bears witness to a 2,700-year history of
thriving Jewish communities.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Jews trace their heritage in Iran
to the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BCE and, like the Armenians,
have retained their ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity.
The king of Persia at the time, Cyrus the Great entered Babylon and
glorified the world with an unprecedented policy of reconciliation. He
presented himself not as a conqueror, but a liberator and the
legitimate successor to the throne.
The Cyrus cylinder, considered as the First Charter of Human Rights
At a time when it was customary to kill the inhabitants of conquered
lands, the speech he delivered to the people of the magnificent city
later became known as the first Charter of Human Rights.
Cyrus ordered his compatriots to help the Jews and introduced the
principle of freedom of movement, allowing them to return to the then
Persian territories that now constitute Palestine. His treatment was
such that many Jews set up home in the Persian Empire.
Over the centuries, Iran not only developed a reputation for its
respect toward religious minorities, but became known as a country
where anti-Semitism has had next to no place.
A Jewish gathering celebrating the second anniversary of the
Constitutional Revolution in Tehran. Since the early 20th century, the
Iranian Jewish community has enjoyed a seat in Parliament.
Jews lived in peace and harmony in Iran during World War II. While the
establishment of the Israeli regime in the aftermath of World War II
did provoke anti-Zionist sentiments in the country, the country’s
Jewish population was not threatened.
In the 1970s, the number of impoverished Iranian Jews amounted to a
mere 10 percent; 80 percent were middle class and 10 percent wealthy.
Although Jews accounted for only a small percentage of the Iranian
population, in 1979 two of the 18 members of the Iranian Academy of
Sciences, 80 of the 4,000 university lecturers, and 600 of the 10,000
physicians in the country were Jewish.
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 was a major turning point for all
Iranians, as it marked the end of monarchy and the dawn of democracy in
the country.
Founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini, who was an outspoken
critic of capitulation and foreign influence, drew a clear distinction
between Zionism and Judaism and was explicit about his stance regarding
Jews and the objective of the revolution.
On the issue of Israel, the Imam has said, "The issue of the Jews is
quite separate from that of the Zionists. If Muslims become victorious
over the Zionists, the latter will meet the same fate as the deposed
shah. However, the Muslims will do nothing to the Jews for they are a
people like other people. They will carry on with their lives."
Iranians view the Zionist movement not a religious but a political one.
In their eyes, Zionists are criminals and should be treated as such.
They have succeeded in establishing a state through promoting racism
and oppressing the Palestinians.
The reality is that Zionists have massacred Muslims, pushed
Palestinians from their land and have shown willingness to use the
Holocaust as a means to justify the annexation of the lands lying
between the Euphrates to the Nile.
As part of its policy of non-capitulation, Iran does not recognize
Israel and supports the Palestinian cause. Iranian officials have been
advocates of returning the lands occupied by Israeli forces to their
rightful owners.
Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami visiting Yousefabad Synagogue
Upon his return to Iran from his exile in Paris, Imam Khomeini
clarified his stance on the issue. He visited with members of Iran’s
Jewish community and issued a decree, ordering the adherents of Judaism
and other revealed religions to be protected.
The Constitution treats Jews as equal to Muslims, Zoroastrians and
Christians. They enjoy the right of self-administration and elect their
own representative to the 290-seat Majlis (Parliament).
Jewish burial rites and divorce laws are accepted by Islamic courts.
They are conscripted into the Army like all Iranian citizens, and the
capital city of Tehran with nearly half of the Jewish population has
over 20 synagogues.
Iranian Jews contributed significantly to the 8-year war imposed on
Iran by Iraq. Many voluntary joined in the Army and died to defend the
country.
Iran also has one of only four Jewish charity hospitals in the world.
The hospital has received donations from top Iranian officials,
including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Kosher butcher shops are available in Iran and members of the Jewish
community have Hebrew schools and coeducation is allowed.
Jews can work where they please. The only limitation they have in terms
of occupation is that they cannot take up a job that would violate
Islamic regulations.
It may come as a surprise but Iran is home to more Jewish shrines and
places of pilgrimage than any other place in the world, except
Palestine. The mausoleum of Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan and the
Tomb of Prophet Daniel are among the famous Jewish landmarks in Iran.
Tomb of Daniel in Shush at the site of ancient Susa, southwestern Iran
Jews living in the country take pride in their Iranian heritage and
have refused to depart for occupied Palestine despite being offered
$10,000 per person by a Zionist organization.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) received the
cold shoulder from Iranian Jewish leaders in a 2007 statement. "Iranian
Jews will not abandon their identity for any amount of money… We love
our Iranian identity and culture, so threats and enticements would not
persuade Iranian Jews to give up their identity."
While Iranians are generally not allowed to go to occupied Palestine,
there have been reports of Iranian Jews traveling to the country to see
their loved ones.
"In the last five years the government (Tehran) has allowed Iranian
Jews to go to Israel freely, meet their families and when they come
back they face no problems," BBC quoted Maurice Motamed, the Jewish
community’s representative in the Iranian Parliament, as saying in
2007.
According to Motamed, there is also possible for Iranian Jews who
emigrated to Palestine decades ago to return to Iran and see their
families.
"They can now go to the Iranian consul general in Istanbul and get
Iranian identity documents and freely come to Iran," Motamed says.
Inside the Tomb of Daniel
While Israel, the United States and the majority of media outlets
strive to portray any country that does not support Zionist crimes as
anti-Semitic, Iran continues to rise to greater heights of respect and
tolerance without attention to Western propaganda.
"Anti-Semitism is not an eastern phenomenon, it’s not an Islamic or
Iranian phenomenon – anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon," says
Tehran Jewish Committee director Ciamak Morsathegh, who is also a
physician and the director of Dr. Sapir Hospital and Charity Center.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
