The execution of an Iranian Jew on Monday has drawn criticism from a top rights monitor and highlights the anguish of the community as it is increasingly torn between the Islamic Republic and Jewish state.
Director of Iran Human Rights group, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said the symbolism must not be overlooked as Israel awaits potential retaliation for the October 26 aerial attacks across Iran.
“In the midst of the threats of war with Israel, the Islamic Republic executed Arvin Ghahremani, an Iranian Jewish citizen”, he said, adding that the legal case had “significant flaws.”
Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani was executed after he was convicted of murder, although his defense argued that the death was accidental and he was defending himself.
Iran’s security apparatus are alleged to have pressured the victim, Amir Shokri’s family not to accept a financial settlement, or blood money, to prevent the execution, as per Iranian laws. Mizan, the news agency of Iran’s judiciary, said the family refused to give consent to the deal.
Iranian-born Yossi Avrahami, who moved to Israel aged 17, told Iran International: “This is just another straw to break the camel’s back for the Jewish community who live a very tough life in Iran."
“Many are leaving and the exodus will continue under the systemic antisemitism of the government to seek a better life elsewhere. It’s heartbreaking but we are being forced out of our homeland.”
Avrahami has family in the US and Israel. “Really, the only safe place for us as Jews now, is Israel, in spite of the threats from Iran.”
Iran’s Jewish community, now numbering around 8,000, is the largest in the region outside Israel, though they live under government oppression. Before 1979, the community was over 100,000 strong, but most fled after the revolution, primarily to Israel and the United States.
Sara Babajani, whose father was born in Iran before moving to Israel, said her family still long to go to their homeland. “To my father, who lived there until he was 15, it’s his home, but it’s not safe for Jews to live under an oppressive, antisemitic regime where sharia law rules,” she told Iran International.
“No Jew is free or safe and until the regime is toppled, we are all trapped in exile. Non-Jews don’t understand why having one Jewish state in the world is so important for us, and this case couldn’t make this answer more clear.”
The Islamic Republic bans Jews from contacting family in Israel or supporting Israel in any way, in spite of the land of Israel being the very essence of the spiritual texts, and prayers directed towards Jerusalem.
"Still in control"
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against a Nuclear Iran, said Iran “wants to send a message at home that it is still in control despite its losses against Israel” after last month’s air attacks which destroyed swathes of Iran’s air defenses.
However, Iranian-born Beni Sabti, a security analyst who now lives in Israel, told Iran International: “I don’t think that it had something to do with Israel because his crime was not related to espionage or something against the regime, so maybe yes they chose the timing for now, but we cannot know for sure.”
As the case was not related to Israel, he said the symbolism is less relevant than the fact the death penalty is being given out in record numbers in the wake of the 2022 uprising. Last year alone, Iran topped the world’s rankings with the most executions with 74 percent of the world’s total, according to Amnesty International.
“In the end, the Jews will have to leave and should, as soon as possible. Israel is no doubt the safest place for them. Many have left, but those who remain choose to be hostages to the regime,” Sabti added.
