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"Anti-Semitism is not an eastern phenomenon, it's not an Islamic or Iranian phenomenon - anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon," he says, arguing that Jews in Iran even in their worst days never suffered as much as they did in Europe.


Ahmedinijad is painted as an Anti-Semite in many reports. The BBC has posted an interesting report about the biggest Jewish community in the Mid East (outside of Israel) - in Iran.

The TV report is available in Thursdays 'Newsnight' programme which can be watched from the BBC website, and there is a text article from which the quote above was taken - the quote is from the Jewish head of a Jewish hospital in Tehran which the government is helping fund.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5367892.stm

The lesson is that one can oppose the political entity that is Israel and Zionism without bearing animosity against the religion of Judaism.


Note also that this report is from the BBC - a 'Western' media outlet

That said, I doubt whether you'd see a similar report on Fox News:)

Cheers,
Shafique

read this article. Refreshing

Another view:

While Jews are a recognized religious minority, allegations of official discrimination are frequent. The Government's anti‑Israel policies, along with a perception among radical Muslims that all Jewish citizens support Zionism and the State of Israel, create a hostile atmosphere for the small community. For example, during the period covered by this report many newspapers celebrated the one-hundredth anniversary of the publishing of the anti-Semitic "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." Jewish leaders reportedly are reluctant to draw attention to official mistreatment of their community due to fear of government reprisal.

In principle, but with some exceptions, there is little restriction of or interference with the Jewish religious practice; however, education of Jewish children has become more difficult in recent years. The Government reportedly allows Hebrew instruction, recognizing that it is necessary for Jewish religious practice. However, it strongly discourages the distribution of Hebrew texts, in practice making it difficult to teach the language. Moreover, the Government has required that several Jewish schools remain open on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, in conformity with the schedule of other schools in the school system. Since working or attending school on the Sabbath violates Jewish law, this requirement has made it impossible for observant Jews both to attend school and adhere to a fundamental tenet of their religion.

Jewish citizens are permitted to obtain passports and to travel outside the country, but they often are denied the multiple-exit permits normally issued to other citizens. With the exception of certain business travelers, the authorities require Jewish persons to obtain clearance and pay additional fees before each trip abroad. The Government appears concerned about the emigration of Jewish citizens and permission generally is not granted for all members of a Jewish family to travel outside the country at the same time.

mraph33 wrote:Another view:

While Jews are a recognized religious minority, allegations of official discrimination are frequent. The Government's anti‑Israel policies, along with a perception among radical Muslims that all Jewish citizens support Zionism and the State of Israel, create a hostile atmosphere for the small community. For example, during the period covered by this report many newspapers celebrated the one-hundredth anniversary of the publishing of the anti-Semitic "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." Jewish leaders reportedly are reluctant to draw attention to official mistreatment of their community due to fear of government reprisal.

In principle, but with some exceptions, there is little restriction of or interference with the Jewish religious practice; however, education of Jewish children has become more difficult in recent years. The Government reportedly allows Hebrew instruction, recognizing that it is necessary for Jewish religious practice. However, it strongly discourages the distribution of Hebrew texts, in practice making it difficult to teach the language. Moreover, the Government has required that several Jewish schools remain open on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, in conformity with the schedule of other schools in the school system. Since working or attending school on the Sabbath violates Jewish law, this requirement has made it impossible for observant Jews both to attend school and adhere to a fundamental tenet of their religion.

Jewish citizens are permitted to obtain passports and to travel outside the country, but they often are denied the multiple-exit permits normally issued to other citizens. With the exception of certain business travelers, the authorities require Jewish persons to obtain clearance and pay additional fees before each trip abroad. The Government appears concerned about the emigration of Jewish citizens and permission generally is not granted for all members of a Jewish family to travel outside the country at the same time.

and ur source is........?

ah sorry....I forgot to write that:
Its from the International Religious Freedom Report of the US state department
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35497.htm

mraph33 wrote:ah sorry....I forgot to write that:
Its from the International Religious Freedom Report of the US state department
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35497.htm

Is this the same state department that swore Saddam had links to Al qeada and WMD?

"Over the centuries there have been sporadic purges, pogroms and forced conversions to Islam as well as periods of peaceful co-existence."


Shaf-- didn't you state that there are no forced conversians in Islam

Edit: The historical truth is that Islam was never spread by the sword, nor has it spawned vicious wars in the name of Islam in the way that people were converted to Christianity at the point of the sword in Spain and elsewhere and the religious wars that was the Crusades.

http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.ph ... c&start=45

Lionheart wrote:

mraph33 wrote:ah sorry....I forgot to write that:
Its from the International Religious Freedom Report of the US state department
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35497.htm

Is this the same state department that swore Saddam had links to Al qeada and WMD?

Actaully that was the Pentagon.... State Department doesn't deal with military issues.

And does anyone really think that a minority living in an religious country like Iran will really be free to speak against the government?