iheartskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 That is absolutely incorrect. Iran has a very large Jewish and Christian population. Most of the Christians are of Armenian decent. The Jewish population has decreased since the revolution but is still very sizeable. Several member of the Israeli government were born in Iran including the current defense minister. The government does not harrass the Jews and Christians that live in Iran and the people on the street don't either. Islam recognizes the two religions but sees them as incomplete. There are several other religions in Iran as well. The group that does face a hard time in Iran are the B'hais. Well, let's see: In 1986 there were an estimated 50,000 Jews in Iran, a decline from about 85,000 in 1978. The Iranian Jewish community is one of the oldest in the world, being descended from Jews who remained in the region following the Babylonian captivity, when the Achaemenid rulers of the first Iranian empire permitted Jews to return to Jerusalem. Over the centuries the Jews of Iran became physically, culturally, and linguistically indistinguishable from the non-Jewish population. The overwhelming majority of Jews speak Persian as their mother language, and a tiny minority, Kurdish. The Jews are predominantly urban and by the 1970s were concentrated in Tehran, with smaller communities in other cities, such as Shiraz, Esfahan, Hamadan, and Kashan. Source: Library of Congress That's hardly very large when compared to the population of preliminary count in the fourth national census in 1986 showing a total population of 48,181,463.. Let's look at the Christians: Iran's indigenous Christians include an estimated 250,000 Armenians, some 32,000 Assyrians, and a small number of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant Iranians converted by missionaries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. So you want current statistics: Iran's current population is around 70M, and the religious concentration is Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%. Source: CIA.gov Current numbers of Jews in Iran are: 0.03% with 11,200 out of 68,688,433: Source: Jewish Agency for Israel That may not be 2 or 3 (which was a facetious guess in any case), but it's not exactly what I'd call a "very large" population, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Egypt already requires this of Christians. Guess Iran just thought it was time to "keep up" with the Joneses. Or is that keeping up with the Kathwaris... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I don't think there's more than 3 Jews (or Christians) in the entire country.Frightening step forward though, nonetheless. There are still many of both in Iran. Most of either aren't ethnically Persian, Iranian or otherwise, though. My Pediatrician when I was growing up was Iranian and Christian, but ethnically Armenian. Iranian Jews are more common than you may think, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalSkins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I was in Tehran last year and there ws a sizeable population of Jews and Armenians. I don't know where they get the census data. Religion is not checked off on a birth certficate or other document so the information gathering can't be very accurate. That 85,000 and 50,000 jews in Iran number is BS. There are probably more than 85,000 jewish Iranians in Los Angeles alone and most of them still have relatives in Iran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 So everyone is going to assume this is true? (the article's claim and not the # of Jewish Iranians) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Yeah, a regieme like that deserves to exist:doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 anyone who still does not see him has the next hitler has got to get their heads out of their asses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 So everyone is going to assume this is true? (the article's claim and not the # of Jewish Iranians) Sounds like BS to me. If this were true it would be front page news on all the alphabet networks right now. Branding Jewish people? uhhh... thats kind of a big deal. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeRedskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 As an Iranian I am dissappionted with the fake news out there putting Iran in a much more negative light than deserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I really hope this is not true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 :doh: its almost as if they are doing the exact opposite of what a sensible government is going to do, at every damn point. This law (well technincally it hasn't been approved yet) will also require Muslims to wear a retarded dress code. People aren't going to stand for that. But who will speak out? First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. Pastor Martin Niemöller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 As an Iranian I am dissappionted with the fake news out there putting Iran in a much more negative light than deserved. I would hope that if you are living in this country you would think of yourself as an American. .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Several other papers are reporting similar news: http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3252830,00.html Exiles: Iran Jews to wear yellow ribbonsIranian expatriates reveal that ‘National Uniform Law’ authorized by Iranian parliament includes clause obligating Iranian Jews to wear yellow ribbon; Christians, other minority members to wear colored ribbons as well. ‘If law passes non-Muslims’ lives will become intolerable Yitzhak Benhorin WASHINGTON – Iranian expatriates said Friday that the "National Uniform Law" authorized by the Iranian parliament a few days ago, which is aimed at getting “Western” style clothing off the streets and advancing more traditional “Islamic” attire, also includes a clause obligating Iranian Jews to wear a yellow ribbon. So too is this figure BS? Since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power last June, life for Iran's 25,000 Jews has become even more precarious as the president defiantly pursues a nuclear policy while declaring Israel should be "wiped off the world map". http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=684952006 From the Associated Press: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=2949b7ed-f9db-42da-8471-b6b6de9b615e&k=72143 Associated Press Published: Friday, May 19, 2006 OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says news reports that Iran could require Jews and Christians to wear coloured labels in public might be true. He says Iran's hardline Islamist government has proven itself capable of such extremism. "Unfortunately, we've seen enough already from the Iranian regime to suggest that it is very capable of this kind of action," Harper said. "We've seen a number of things from the Iranian regime that are along these lines. "And the fact that such a measure could even be contemplated is absolutely abhorrent." The National Post newspaper reported Friday that Iran's parliament has passed a law that would require Jews to wear yellow labels, and Christians red ones, on their clothing. The law must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide," Ali Khamenehi, to come into effect, the newspaper said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Iheart... might be the case. But until I see it in the mainstream outlets, I'm adding salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Iheart... might be the case. But until I see it in the mainstream outlets, I'm adding salt. Clicky, clicky... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I've just outlawed Iran. Bombing begins in five minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Clicky, clicky... hmmm... not looking good. Still holding out hope this isn't true. I mean, there are human beings in Iran, right? That's what my personal experience tells me. If true, this will go a long way towards telling me my personal experience isn't very relevant. :2cents: ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I mean, there are human beings in Iran, right? That's what my personal experience tells me. Not all Iranians are Islamic fundamentalists. I think it's really unfair to condemn an entire race of people, because of the actions of their government. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I like Iranians. I work closely with several who are great people who are also good friends. I have no problem with the Iranian people--however, I have a huge problem with the current administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I like Iranians. I work closely with several who are great people who are also good friends. I have no problem with the Iranian people--however, I have a huge problem with the current administration. Keyword... you work with them. i.e. they are not in Iran anymore. I have a good friend who is Persian, and left Iran when the shah was overthrown. But he is not in Iran anymore... seems he had the sense to get out. Not all Iranians are Islamic fundamentalists. I think it's really unfair to condemn an entire race of people, because of the actions of their government. Maybe, maybe not. There were plenty of good people in late 1930's Germany. Or were there? Would we allow something like that here? I would argue that we are not FAST ENOUGH to judge an entire country of people based on their actions of their government. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I like Iranians. I work closely with several who are great people who are also good friends. I have no problem with the Iranian people--however, I have a huge problem with the current administration. I remember years ago hearing an interview with an author who'd just published a book, Political Jokes of Leningrad, about jokes that Russians told about Russia. "How does a smart Russian jew talk to a dumb Russian jew?" "Long distance from New York." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I remember years ago hearing an interview with an author who'd just published a book, Political Jokes of Leningrad, about jokes that Russians told about Russia. "How does a smart Russian jew talk to a dumb Russian jew?" "Long distance from New York." Good one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 Larry, change "Russian" to any nationality other than American and Israeli and you still have a good joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 The thing with ALL of those other sources that people ahve put up is that one they all admit that the reports are unconfirmed AND they all cite the one Canadian article, that I highly doubt. from the yahoo link "OTTAWA (AFP) - The Canadian and Australian prime ministers expressed concern at unconfirmed reports that said Iran may force non-Muslims to wear colored badges in public so they can be identified." This isn't exactly something hard to confirm If this was true and the majlis did pass it would be recorded and the Iranian news agencies would ahve reported. I can't read farsi any more but all the Iranians that can say they have looked and found no record of it on the IRIB website or anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeRedskins Posted May 19, 2006 Share Posted May 19, 2006 I would hope that if you are living in this country you would think of yourself as an American..... I do consider myself an American as I am citizen and I do use my right to vote, but I don't consider myself any less Iranian just because I live in America. People whose families are two or three generations deep in America still are proud of their Irish, German, Polish, what have you heritage and I'm very proud of my Persain linage. And unfortunately I will have to deal with the backlash and reaction of what the Iranian government does even though I have no say in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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