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Iranian immigrants arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport in December 2007. (Alon Ron)
Last update - 14:50 07/05/2008
Jewish-Iranian lawmaker: Israel's behavior is 'anti-human'
By Reuters
Tags: Iran, Siamak Morsadegh 

An Iranian Jewish leader on Wednesday said his community would not mark this week's 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, which he accused of "killing innocent" Palestinians.

"We are in complete disagreement with the behavior of Israel," Siamak Morsadegh, the incoming Jewish member of the Iranian parliament following a March election, told Reuters.

"
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It is not related to us," he said about Thursday's celebrations in Israel to commemorate six decades of statehood. "We are Iranians. We have no relations with Israel."

Iran's ancient Jewish community has dwindled by roughly 75 percent since the 1979 Islamic revolution but is still believed to be the biggest in the Middle East outside Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognize.

Like many people in Iran, members of minorities which also include Christians and other faiths can be reluctant to publicly criticize its ruling establishment and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who regularly predicts the demise of Israel.

A group of 40 Iranian Jews landed in Israel last December, the largest since the fall of the Shah and Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The United States, another arch-foe of Iran, accuses it of discriminating against its religious and ethnic minorities.

Iran denies the charge and often responds to such allegations by referring to what it sees as abuses in the West.

Official representatives of the minorities say economic woes affecting all Iranians and other issues are to blame for people leaving, not any mistreatment of the minority groups.

Morsadegh said Jews in Iran enjoyed freedom of religion and other rights: "There are no specific problems for Jews in this country," he said by phone.

'Threatening Atmosphere'
He declined to comment on remarks by Ahmadinejad, who sparked international outrage with his call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" and for questioning the Holocaust, when six million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany in World War II.

But the Jewish community leader criticized Israel's policies towards Palestinians, especially in Gaza, saying it showed "anti-human behavior ... they kill innocent people."

Israel says it tries to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza and that militant groups effectively use combatants as human shields by operating in populated areas.

Israel has described Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence.

Judaism is one of three recognized minority religions in Iran. The community has a member in the 290-seat legislature and its own schools. Four other seats are reserved for Christians and Zoroastrians, who adhere to a pre-Islamic religion.

The U.S. State Department said in its 2007 human rights report in March: "All religious minorities suffered varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in employment, education and housing."

The Iranian government's anti-Israel stance "created a threatening atmosphere for the [Jewish] community", it said.

The Jewish population in Iran has declined to about 25,000 from some 100,000 three decades ago. Their numbers have fallen also in Arab countries since the 1948 war at Israel's creation, which hardened Arab attitudes to deep-rooted Jewish minorities.

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      1.   No relations? where will they run when Ahmadnejad comes for them? 13:09  |  Dan 07/05/08
      2.   Reminds me of the German Jews 13:10  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      3.   Jewish- Iranian patsy 13:11  |  K 07/05/08
      4.   Ahmadinejad`s lack of tolerance is *anti-human* 13:20  |  Michael J 07/05/08
      5.   HE HAS BEEN BRAINWASHED 13:34  |  Nicole 07/05/08
      6.   All respect for the Jewish community in Iran 13:43  |  Dina 07/05/08
      7.   Iranian treatment of Jews a million times better than 14:28  |  A`aron 07/05/08
      8.   Homosexual are being executed in Iran 14:30  |  Israeli 07/05/08
      9.   Let`s be honest, shall we? 14:32  |  Gili 07/05/08
      10.   #2 * BEN JABO 14:34  |  Axel 07/05/08
      11.   Absolutely Preposterous 14:46  |  Evan Gildenblatt 07/05/08
      12.   Human Rights Watch said 15:01  |  Jack 07/05/08
      13.   I`m afraid there is a little problem with the "fear-argument".... 15:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/05/08
      14.   ridiculous 15:33  |  joki 07/05/08
      15.   Iran, great place to run away from 15:42  |  nopuppetofiran 07/05/08
      16.   token jew trying to stay alive in a theocracy 15:51  |  dav zee 07/05/08
      17.   what the iranians jews would really like to say... 15:53  |  PhillyJew 07/05/08
      18.   Better to lie than be persecuted 16:03  |  Avrum 07/05/08
      19.   the gentleman doth protest too much 16:03  |  david 07/05/08
      20.   to israeli 16:08  |  Dan G 07/05/08
      21.   He is right...the crimes of Israel rest on Israelis NOT all Jews 16:11  |  New Yorker 07/05/08
      22.   Iranian Jewish community 16:21  |  marbpl 07/05/08
      23.   a little about their community 16:21  |  mark 07/05/08
      24.   Ulterior motives 16:45  |  Gaby 07/05/08
      25.   Just toeing the regime line 16:46  |  Noam 07/05/08
      26.   No. 7, A`aron 16:50  |  W 07/05/08
      27.   Jerusalem 17:05  |  Matthew Houston 07/05/08
      28.   Sister Cities 17:07  |  Matthew Houston 07/05/08
      29.   This man fears for his life - remember when ... 17:08  |  Elihu 07/05/08
      30.   COME ON GUYS , WHTA ELSE CAN HE SAY? LITTLE COMON SENSE NEED APLY 17:14  |  Gabriel 07/05/08
      31.   Jews in Iran have not committed one act of terrorism against Iran 17:16  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/05/08
      32.   Acutally, Jack, You Don`t Know 17:19  |  Tex 07/05/08
      33.   Jews in Iran have not committed one act of terrorism (cont.) 17:20  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/05/08
      34.   Jews in Iran have not committed one act of terrorism (cont. 2) 17:22  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/05/08
      35.   #9 Gili 17:29  |  Cool B 07/05/08
      36.   Swiss Dino 17:43  |  Roxana from IRAN 07/05/08
      37.   #25 Noam 17:53  |  Bryan 07/05/08
      38.   Maybe scared? 18:07  |  Stranger 07/05/08
      39.   Cool B 18:19  |  marbpl 07/05/08
      40.   To Israeli 8: Palestinian are being executed by Israel 18:20  |  bibliovitz 07/05/08
      41.   New Yorker 18:22  |  Stranger 07/05/08
      42.   Court Jews are back 18:36  |  Matze 07/05/08
      43.   To Philly Jew 18:44  |  Persian Kitty 07/05/08
      44.   What else can he say? 18:46  |  Iranian ex-pat 07/05/08
      45.   Roxana - can`t let go of your bias? 18:50  |  Iranian ex-pat 07/05/08
      46.   Pathetic in their fear of the regime 18:53  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 07/05/08
      47.   Pathetic in their fear of the regime 18:53  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 07/05/08
      48.   Iran`s Token Jew 19:01  |  MichaelF 07/05/08
      49.   #2 - BEN JABO 19:04  |  MichaelF 07/05/08
      50.   Shah Recognized Jewish Zionist American Lobby 19:04  |  C 07/05/08
      51.   Siamak May "Officially" Not Think Much Of Israel But Israel ... 19:22  |  Lavi 07/05/08
      52.   Dire threats from ahmadinejad & co towards 19:29  |  stef 07/05/08
      53.   #21, Well said, New Yorker... 19:39  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      54.   One of the posters here mentioned that homosexuals are hanged in 19:41  |  lakshmi 07/05/08
      55.   Swiss (Dino) I commend Siamak Morsadegh 19:41  |  David Isarel 07/05/08
      56.   THEY WILL CELEBRATE 19:45  |  TOBIA 07/05/08
      57.   Persian Kitty - There are many Irabnian Jews In Great Nect 19:56  |  David Israel 07/05/08
      58.   Ben Jab Alot 20:09  |  Soldier of Above 07/05/08
      59.   What do you pretend this guy say? 20:14  |  Ulf 07/05/08
      60.   #50 20:22  |  TOBIA 07/05/08
      61.   Stranger - Crimes 20:30  |  New Yorker 07/05/08
      62.   # 36 Roxana from IRAN (2nd try) 20:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/05/08
      63.   reply 20:42  |  Leon 07/05/08
      64.   In Egypt Jews had to bash Israel to survive too 20:53  |  EgyptJewRefugee 07/05/08
      65.   I`M JEWISH IRANIAN, I LOVE ISRAEL 21:01  |  Jewish Iranian 07/05/08
      66.   Take my word (an Iranian Jew) 21:10  |  Jacob 07/05/08
      67.   Iranian ex-pat, not bias but facts 21:13  |  Roxana from IRAN 07/05/08
      68.   # 55 David Israel 21:15  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/05/08
      69.   What`s really funny about Jews in Arab countries, at least if you 21:34  |  Andreas 07/05/08
      70.   69Andr"What`s really funny about Jews in Arab countries"-NOTHING! 21:57  |  Jew from Aden 07/05/08
      71.   Oh, sweet memories - Jews on Moscow TV 22:02  |  17 07/05/08
      72.   #69 Andreas - Basel 22:16  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      73.   the earth is flat, it goes around the sun and mohamad is all wise 22:17  |  ralph 07/05/08
      74.   He is dead wrong 22:39  |  Iranian jew 07/05/08
      75.   Iranians must be smarter than Americans. 22:40  |  Mike 07/05/08
      76.   About the Shah 22:46  |  Aaron 07/05/08
      77.   roxanna jan 22:48  |  fellow Iranian 07/05/08
      78.   So are we all to believe it`s a coincidence.... 22:49  |  Conroy 07/05/08
      79.   Swiss (Dino) - There are many Diaspora Jews 22:50  |  David Israel 07/05/08
      80.   All the Iranian elected Jewish representative is saying is... 22:55  |  ManintheMiddle 07/05/08
      81.   Another ass kisser , there were planty 22:55  |  TOMY 07/05/08
      82.   To # 69 Andreas - You are dreaming..... 23:01  |  Natasha 07/05/08
      83.   Roxana - please think harder 23:01  |  Iranian ex-pat 07/05/08
      84.   #13 Swiss , I knew many kissers in my life 23:05  |  TOMY 07/05/08
      85.   Two wrongs don`t make a right! 23:14  |  Cyrus the Great 07/05/08
      86.   Mike from Denver - If the Shah was still there 23:23  |  David Israel 07/05/08
      87.   What`s in a title? 23:23  |  Daniel 07/05/08
      88.   Aaron from Mntreal 23:39  |  David Israel 07/05/08
      89.   This is how Jews and other minorities are treated in Iran 23:44  |  Conroy 07/05/08
      90.   #35 Cool B, Joke? Facts. 23:49  |  Dr. E 07/05/08
      91.   Is it true there is finally a Jewish Politician in An Arab land 23:50  |  Robert/Montreal 07/05/08
      92.   Visit Israel and see for yourself who is human 23:52  |  Realist 07/05/08
      93.   #13 Swiss (Dino) So true! 23:56  |  Maureen Ann 07/05/08
      94.   Dont think ill of Siamak Morsadegh 23:59  |  Adrian de Klerk 07/05/08
      95.   #40 Michael F - That`s why you`re alive 00:16  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      96.   384 TOMY. The KGB. What about the Bolsheviks? 00:32  |  Maureen Ann 08/05/08
      97.   # 79 David Israel 00:44  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      98.   # 84 TOMY 00:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      99.   Persian Kitty 01:02  |  David. 08/05/08
      100.   #85 Cyrus 01:08  |  Marc 08/05/08
      101.   Cyrus the great?? 01:09  |  Ralph 08/05/08
      102.   Dino #13 01:15  |  Jew with a Clue 08/05/08
      103.   Cyrus the Great Ignoramus 01:27  |  Jew with a Clue 08/05/08
      104.   Iran will be better when Israel disppears from the earth. 01:38  |  Shahid 08/05/08
      105.   Jewish Iranians and Israels raison d`etat 01:59  |  Fritz T. 08/05/08
      106.   This Clown Is Qualified to Be a Haaretz Columnist 02:00  |  Tod Zuckerman 08/05/08
      107.   To Mike in Denver 02:40  |  KT 08/05/08
      108.   #80 Maninthemiddle - All the Iranian is saying 02:58  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      109.   #83 Iranian Ex-Pat: Kheli Mamnoon, Toh Kheli Mardeh KhubeeHastee 03:59  |  Lavi 08/05/08
      110.   Human Rights Watch 04:07  |  R 08/05/08
      111.   Cyrus the "great" 05:01  |  Rory 08/05/08
      112.   iran the land of free will 05:30  |  larzbeach 08/05/08
      113.   #91 Human rights Watch 05:47  |  *BEN JABO 08/05/08
      114.   Persian Kitty 05:52  |  Danite 08/05/08
      115.   54 lakshmi compares Gays to murderes (2nd try) 06:04  |  I 08/05/08
      116.   #83. Do you have first hand personal knowledge of... 06:45  |  ManintheMiddle 08/05/08
      117.   #91 Human Rights Watch #110 is a FORGERY 06:57  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      118.   #101 Shahid - Netanyahu will be next PM 07:00  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      119.   carter was innocent 07:30  |  benham 08/05/08
      120.   dream on 07:46  |  benham 08/05/08
      121.   Jacob (my Iranian fellow) 07:57  |  Roxana from IRAN 08/05/08
      122.   Cyrus the Great in Islam 07:59  |  mech 08/05/08
      123.   Iranian Ex-Pat 08:10  |  Roxana from IRAN 08/05/08
      124.   BEN JABO #108 - Iranian Jews can stay where they are 08:45  |  The Serious One 08/05/08
      125.   Fig of Imagination 09:12  |  Ahmed 08/05/08
      126.   ArabLawmakers in Israel BUT NO JEWISH LAWMAKERS IN ARAB COUNTRIES 09:16  |  The Serious One. 08/05/08
      127.   Jewish Iranian lawmaker`s remarks. 09:30  |  David Nigel Braham 08/05/08
      128.   Mr Morsadegh,needs to read`"Prisoner of Tehran" by M.Nemat 10:00  |  PETER SM 08/05/08
      129.   Morsadegh never been to a Mullah orderd public hanging or stonin 10:16  |  PETER SM 08/05/08
      130.   A Comment of Fear for himself and the remaining few in Iran 10:22  |  Lily 08/05/08
      131.   WOMEN ON DEATH ROW IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN 10:39  |  PETER SM 08/05/08
      132.   # 102 Jew with a clue 11:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      133.   Iranian Jew 11:31  |  Roxana from IRAN 08/05/08
      134.   THE FARCE Of Iranian human rights exposed by Dr Homa Darabi 12:04  |  PETER SM 08/05/08
      135.   # 93 Maureen Ann (2nd try) 13:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      136.   Swiss (Dino) #97 - for PM of Israel :-) 15:40  |  David Israel 08/05/08
      137.   Swiss (dino) are you attacking Isral, USA or else 15:55  |  David Isarel 08/05/08
      138.   #124 Serious Ones 16:59  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      139.   #93 Maureen Ann - Diaspora Jews 17:04  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      140.   Maninthemiddle (116) 17:09  |  Iranian ex-pat 08/05/08
      141.   Roxana (123) 17:16  |  Iranin ex-pat 08/05/08
      142.   #96 Maureen , No passimism is in order . 18:21  |  TOMY 08/05/08
      143.   #98 Swiss , Selfhating Jews are real . 18:35  |  TOMY 08/05/08
      144.   Jews in Iran 19:40  |  Isaac Mozeson 08/05/08
      145.   Swiss (dino) #132 - Who are you accusing? 20:37  |  David Israel 08/05/08
      146.   Iranian ex-pat you think & write as a proud &peaceful Zoroastrian 21:08  |  Genuine Toseftat 08/05/08
      147.   # 145 David, actually it was an attack directly on you...... 21:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      148.   # 145 David Israel (2) 21:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 08/05/08
      149.   Iranian Jews or Jews not Iranians 22:13  |  Adam Astan 08/05/08
      150.   Swiss (Dino) thank you for attacking me 22:38  |  David Israel 08/05/08
      151.   Swiss (D) Please attack me 23:02  |  David Israel 08/05/08
      152.   Swiss (Dino) 4th try 01:04  |  David Isarel 09/05/08
      153.   Swiss (Dino) 5th try 02:06  |  David Israel 09/05/08
      154.   When is a Jew a Jew? 03:53  |  * BEN JABO 10/05/08
      155.   Morsadegh is a hofjude 10:36  |  Kucku Muruku 16/05/08
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