In mid-June, Iran escalated tensions as Israeli airstrikes targeted sites connected to its military, including bases run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and facilities related to nuclear activities. During this period, state television broadcast a calm propaganda campaign. The nation’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, appeared alongside the guards, with a narrator claiming, “We are all proud soldiers… We uproot the Jews on our own.”
This messaging seemed to signal a determination to resist following Israel’s strikes, which the regime perceived as humiliating, while also sending alarming signals to the Jewish community in Iran.
In the aftermath of the brief war, Iranian authorities initiated a series of arrests. Reports indicate that hundreds were detained on espionage accusations, including at least 35 Jews from cities like Tehran and Shiraz. Many were reportedly interrogated and faced harassment. Their social media activities came under scrutiny, and they were often pressured to sever connections with foreign relatives, especially those in Israel.
This crackdown was more than just repression; it was a strategic move to instill fear and isolate vulnerable groups within Iran.
You see, Iranian Jews have lived in the region for almost three millennia, with roots going back well before Islam and Christianity. Their story is intertwined with that of Queen Esther, mentioned each year during Purim, and they have endured persecution, war, and upheaval over the centuries.
It’s troubling how Iranian authorities often use Jewish communities as leverage to stir anti-Israel sentiment, which was strikingly evident as recently as October 30, 2023, when leaders of these communities felt coerced.
As of now, approximately 10,000 Jews remain in Iran, representing the largest Jewish population in the Middle East outside Israel. They are acknowledged in the Iranian constitution as “book people,” which allows them to practice their religion and run kosher establishments. However, this limited freedom stems not from any genuine tolerance but rather from a strategic effort to deflect accusations of anti-Semitism.
The Iranian parliament allocates one seat specifically for Jewish representatives, and it’s noteworthy that these representatives occasionally participate in high-level delegations from the Islamic Republic, particularly during the UN General Assembly in New York each September.
The presence of Jewish Iranians is, as writer Roya Hakakian remarked in the Atlantic, an important symbol, particularly to the ruling mullahs. In contrast to other Muslim nations in the region, Iranian Jews serve as a shield against accusations of anti-Semitism against the regime.
Back in 2005, then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad even held a contest featuring Holocaust cartoons, showcasing the regime’s stance on these issues.
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Jewish population has dwindled by 90%, primarily due to the rise of the current regime, which has been broadly anti-American and anti-Israel. The execution of a prominent Jewish businessman, Habib Elganians, in 1979 spurred many to leave.
Yet, unlike other Jewish populations in the Middle East, Iranian Jews were never exiled. They remained, but their safety has always been precarious. The recent arrests of Jews in Iran underscore the regime’s expectation of absolute loyalty and its view of connections to the outside world, especially to relatives abroad, as potential threats.
This theme, I explore further in my upcoming book, “Announcement: Iran’s #WomanLifeFreedom Revolt,” which recounts the rift between the Iranian populace and the regime that emerged after Mahsa Amini’s death during the 2022-2023 uprising. The Islamic Republic’s adversaries extend beyond Zionism and the West to encompass any desire for autonomy.
In the end, Iranian Jews find themselves entangled in a geopolitical crisis yet again. Their silence should not be mistaken for complicity; it is, in fact, a means of survival. Their resilience speaks not to the regime’s leniency but to the enduring spirit of the Jewish community.
It’s crucial not to forget them, whether you’re part of the global Jewish community or someone who hopes for a future in Iran that champions freedom and justice.
