Posted on 05/19/2006 2:55:11 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
Human rights groups are raising alarms over a new law passed by the Iranian parliament that would require the country's Jews and Christians to wear coloured badges to identify them and other religious minorities as non-Muslims.
"This is reminiscent of the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. "Iran is moving closer and closer to the ideology of the Nazis."
Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."
The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.
Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.
"There's no reason to believe they won't pass this," said Rabbi Hier. "It will certainly pass unless there's some sort of international outcry over this."
Bernie Farber, the chief executive of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said he was "stunned" by the measure. "We thought this had gone the way of the dodo bird, but clearly in Iran everything old and bad is new again," he said. "It's state-sponsored religious discrimination."
Ali Behroozian, an Iranian exile living in Toronto, said the law could come into force as early as next year.
It would make religious minorities immediately identifiable and allow Muslims to avoid contact with non-Muslims.
Mr. Behroozian said it will make life even more difficult for Iran's small pockets of Jewish, Christian and other religious minorities -- the country is overwhelmingly Shi'ite Muslim. "They have all been persecuted for a while, but these new dress rules are going to make things worse for them," he said.
The new law was drafted two years ago, but was stuck in the Iranian parliament until recently when it was revived at the behest of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
A spokesman for the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa refused to comment on the measures. "This is nothing to do with anything here," said a press secretary who identified himself as Mr. Gharmani.
"We are not here to answer such questions."
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre has written to Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, protesting the Iranian law and calling on the international community to bring pressure on Iran to drop the measure.
"The world should not ignore this," said Rabbi Hier. "The world ignored Hitler for many years -- he was dismissed as a demagogue, they said he'd never come to power -- and we were all wrong."
Mr. Farber said Canada and other nations should take action to isolate Mr. Ahmadinejad in light of the new law, which he called "chilling," and his previous string of anti-Semitic statements.
"There are some very frightening parallels here," he said. "It's time to start considering how we're going to deal with this person."
Mr. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly described the Holocaust as a myth and earlier this year announced Iran would host a conference to re-examine the history of the Nazis' "Final Solution."
He has caused international outrage by publicly calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map."
Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons, but Tehran believed by Western nations to be developing its own nuclear military capability, in defiance of international protocols and peace treaties.
The United States, France and Israel accuse Iran of using a civilian nuclear program to secretly build a weapon. Iran denies this, saying its program is confined to generating electricity.
Why would any Jew or Christian want to live in that hellhole?
Hopefully, 100% of them will get out NOW.
"These people only caare about the Koran, so if it is in there, then the dress restrictions must be implemented."
As for what's in the Koran and whether it must be implemented, remember, that Iran is Khomeinist, and they follow the teachings of Khomeini. (though the new president is a believer in Hojatieh, but he doesn't have the final say in anything).
Many muslims will argue that women even having to cover their heads is not in the Koran.
HOW LONG is the world going to permit these lunatics to continue with their agenda of nuclear development????
Nobody said a word when they exterminated the Bahais and presecuted the Zoroastrians. Now they are setting their sites on the Jews.
The Ayatollahs are an even greater threat than the NAZIs and Adolph Hitler, yet the west continues trying to use "diplomacy" with a group of lunatics for whom only total war is an appropriate response.
This is the real Islam for ya, Tony! This is the default position of Islam for non-Muslims
Sadly, this is exactly what the madmen in Iran are trying to do - get rid of all non-Muslims in Iran.
I don't know the history of Christians in Iran, but other minorities, like Jews and Zoroastrians, have been there much longer than the Muslims have. If anything, they have more right to be there than Muslims do.
When Cyrus the Great ruled Persia, it was one of the greatest civilizations on Earth. A Zoroastrian (original religion of Persia), he presided over a golden age, and even went out of his way to protect the Jews in his land, as well as helping the Jews regain their place in Judea.
The Islamic invaders ruthlessly raped Persia, and to this day they are trying to destroy its history and people.
Leaving is not an option - that would be capitulation, and surrender.
We should help the original Persians, the Zoroastrians, regain their birthright and their home. If the Muslims want to stay, they should be welcome, but only as one among many, not as the modern Nazis they have become.
*** Once again, the words "Never Again" ring hollow.**
Didn't you get the memo??
BUSH is Hitler, and Dems winning Election is more important than a few million people being irradiated.....
I see your point...but would rather these people live than die.
I don't think the Muslims have yet recovered from the annihilation that the Mongol Horde laid upon them.
Because the leaders of the ruling class are allowed to play by different rules. A single sniper would be infinitely better than 1000s of people killed in a war. Start killing these maniacs and the devil cult leaders and maybe, just maybe Is-Slime can be placed back in the pig sty from whence it came.
Who was the 'Shaw'?
I think you meant to say, "The Shah."
The Shah had reasonably good relations with Israel. Iran was one of the first countries to recognize Israel. Recognition was withdrawn with the assession of the Mullahs.
Iran might as well just *beg* the Israelis to strike.They clearly *want* this to happen...most likely so they can meet their virgins soon.
BTW...I love your tag line, I always laugh when I see it!
Thank you, Jimmy Carter and International Left, for toppling the "reactionary" Shah and giving us this progressive, revolutionary regime!
A Christian and a Jew to be found lighting the Parliament building on fire.
Staged attack by Israel against one of their radio/television stations Etc.
Now if Spain would only have a civil war they could send in their Air Force for some combat training.
Not to worry! Our upstanding leaders will stand up to this injustice! Look at how they kept us safe from...uh...illegal...uh...border...uh
Nevermind...
If this happens, they will have crossed the line. Even the Elite Leftists in this country and in Europe will finally have something real to complain about.
He WANTS us to bomb him. He NEEDS us to bomb him. He will keep upping the ante until we bomb him.
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