Iran: Information on the situation of Jews

In a 14 July 1994 broadcast, Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network reported that the religious leader of the Iranian Jews is Yusof Kohan.

Jewish Exponent estimates that there are 18,000 Jews in Iran today (28 Mar. 1996), while in a 12 March 1996 Agence France Presse (AFP) report states that the community numbers 30,000 half of which live in Tehran. In the general election held in winter 1996, Jews were allocated 10 polling stations for voting (ibid.). Jewish men went to vote with the traditional Jewish kippa (or skull cap), while Jewish women wore the Islamic covering (ibid.). In order to accommodate Jewish voters, the 10 polling stations remained open late, allowing around 70 per cent of the community's eligible voters to vote, a rate higher than in the 1992 elections (ibid.). Manucherhr Eliasi was elected from the five candidates put forward by the community (ibid.). There are around 20 synagogues in Tehran (ibid.).

The following information was provided during a 10 September 1996 telephone interview with a specialist on Iran at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

The source stated that there are approximately 20,000 to 25,000 Jews in Iran today. Jews have the right to education and Jewish children attend public schools. Jewish and Armenian schools are now public and open to the general population. The source has never heard of cases where Jewish children were refused access to Iranian schools. The Jewish community has the right to work and to practise its religion. The source stated that it is rare for a Jew to be hired for a government job, or for any other kind of public employment.

Although there is no systematic policy of harassment against the Jewish community, there have been instances where Jewish leaders had their telephones tapped and their spouses were not allowed to travel abroad with them. The source stated that the Jewish community must periodically prove its loyalty to the regime and to Iran.

The following information was provided during a 16 September 1996 telephone interview with a French journalist who was posted in Tehran between 1992 and 1996.

The source stated that the Jewish community is under surveillance because of the tensions between Israel and Iran. There are approximately 10,000 to 12,000 Jews in Iran today. The community is confronted to administrative problems with the government. Jews in Iran do not have access to government or public jobs, but ordinary members of the Jewish community have been able to cope with this situation, and live in Iran. The Jewish community has the right to practise its religion, and there are synagogues in Iran. There is a Jewis member of the Majlis, the Iranian parliament. Generally, the situation of Jews is better than the Bahai's, but worst than for the Christian community. Jews have the right to a passport and to travel abroad.

The following information was provided during a 24 September 1996 telephone interview with a professor of political science specializing on Iran at the University of Calgary.

The source stated that the Jewish community lives a relatively normal life in Iran today. Jews in Iran have the right to practise their religion with few restrictions.

For additional information on this subject, please consult the attached documents.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 March 1996. Abdallah Kassem. "Jews Turn Out in Force to Vote in Iranian Election." (Nexis)

Jewish Exponent. 28 March 1996. "The Celebration of Our Liberation." (Nexis)

French journalist posted to Tehran, Paris, France. 16 September 1996. Telephone interview.

Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Calgary. 24 September 1996. Telephone interview.

Specialist on Iran, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. 10 September 1996. Telephone interview.

Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network [Tehran, in Persian]. 14 July 1994. "Jewish Community Leader in Iran Vondemns Bomb Explosion at Imam Reza Shrine." (BBC Summary 16 July 1994). (Nexis)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 March 1996. Abdallah Kassem. "Jews Turn Out in Force to Vote in Iranian Election." (Nexis)

Contemporary Religions: A World Guide. 1992. "Iran." Edited by Ian Harris, Stuart Mews, Paul Morris and John Shepherd. New York: Longman Current Affairs.

Federal News Service (FNS). 27 February 1996. "Prepared Statement of Shahin Abkazian Before the House International Relations Committee on International Operations and Human Rights." (Nexis)

Iran: A Country Study. December 1987. Edited by Helen Chapin Metz. Washington: Library of Congress.

Religion in Politics: A World Guide. 1989. "Iran." Edited by Stuart Mews. Chicago: St. James Press.