WANA (Jun 16) – After the October 7, 2023, attack and Israel’s bloody response in Gaza, tensions spread beyond the Middle East, and a new wave of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism swept through the streets and universities of both the West and the East.

 

Protests that began with the slogan “Ceasefire” soon took on a more extreme tone. Walls were covered with anti-Jewish graffiti, placards were raised bearing slogans against Israel, and chants were heard that no longer targeted only Israeli policies, but also ordinary Jews, whether secular, religious, or even anti-Zionist.

 

Synagogues, Jewish cultural centers, and religious schools around the world suddenly rose to the top of security protection lists. In contrast, in a country like Iran—despite its explicitly anti-Zionist policies—synagogues have remained unguarded, open, and active.

 

This article takes a look at the global spread of hatred against Jews and Zionists after October 7 and examines why Iran, despite its serious political disputes with Israel, has taken a different approach toward its Jewish citizens.

Hamas October 7 Attack. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Global Rise in Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

Hamas’s attack on October 7 reopened old wounds in the Middle East. Israel’s response—with thousands killed in Gaza—sparked global outrage. But this anger was directed not only at the Israeli government; it also affected Jewish communities around the world.

 

In many parts of the world, the distinction between Zionism and Judaism was ignored, and anyone with a Jewish appearance or name suddenly came under suspicion.

 

The statistics speak for themselves:

  • In the United States, antisemitic incidents rose from 3,698 in 2022 to 8,873 in 2023—a 140% increase.
  • In universities, the increase was 321%, rising from 219 incidents in 2022 to 1,009 bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions, especially synagogues.
  • In Germany, 4,782 antisemitic incidents were recorded, including 121 physical assaults, 329 cases of property damage, and 183 threats.
  • The Netherlands saw a 245% increase in such incidents.
  • In 2023, Argentina also reported a 44% rise in antisemitic incidents, 57% of which occurred in the three months following the October 7 attack.

A view of the synagogue where a man armed with a knife and a metal bar is suspected of having set fire, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Rouen, France. Social media/ WANA News Agency

In many countries, security around synagogues intensified—sometimes with three layers of protection, body searches, and even a requirement to prove Jewish identity in order to enter religious sites.

 

In this context, legitimate criticism of Zionism became a pretext for attacking Judaism, and under such circumstances, the experience of countries like Iran is noteworthy—where Zionism is explicitly criticized, yet a clear red line is drawn between it and Judaism.

 

Iran: A country with the slogan “Death to Israel,” but a peaceful life for Jews

In the post-October 7 world, there exists a place where, for over four decades, the most explicit anti-Zionist slogans have been chanted in the streets, yet not a single synagogue has been set on fire, nor has anyone been attacked solely for being Jewish. Iran is an exception.

 

Around 20,000 Jews live in Iran; most of them in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Kermanshah, though their presence can be traced in many other cities: from Yazd to Urmia, from Rasht to Rafsanjan. The number of active synagogues in Tehran ranges from 20 to 25, where daily prayers are held. If we also count those synagogues that are only active during religious holidays, this number increases.

 

Dr. Siamak More Sedgh, the Jewish representative in the 8th, 9th, and 10th Iranian Parliament, says in an interview with WANA News Agency regarding Iran’s and Iranian society’s treatment of Jews:

 

“We have never had organized anti-Semitism in Iran, and the first people to stand up against any possible harassment of Jews have always been Shi’a religious authorities. Here, we don’t have police guarding synagogues—except only for crowd control during major ceremonies, not because of security threats.”

Dr. More Sedgh, the former representative of Iranian Jews in the Iranian parliament. WANA News Agency

International figures have also referred to this issue. George Galloway, former Member of the UK Parliament, emphasized the absence of security fences, barriers, and guards in a video he posted on his X account during a visit to the Haim Synagogue in Tehran, considering it a sign of the safety and respect afforded to Jews in Iran. Referring to the presence of around 100 active synagogues in Iran and a Jewish representative in the Parliament, he presents an image that is rarely reflected in Western media.

 

He shares his experience of visiting synagogues outside Iran:

 

“They asked me for identification documents to enter the synagogue, and I had to prove that I was Jewish. I had even brought a letter from Jewish religious authorities in Iran, but they paid no attention and only allowed me in after multiple layers of inspection. However, in Iran, there has never been any need for such measures — even non-Jewish people, just like Muslims, make vows to the synagogue.”

 

Interestingly, not only do Jews in Iran enjoy religious freedom, but their specific religious services are also fully organized. From Jewish schools (where the only difference is in religious studies, and the rest is exactly like other schools) to seven kosher butcher shops and five kosher restaurants in Tehran — these are just a few examples of such services.

Iranian Jews attend a Jewish worship service in a synagogue/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Iranian Jews attend a Jewish worship service in a synagogue in Tehran, Iran, November 30, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Even the relationship of Jews with national concepts is unique in Iran. The former representative of the Jewish community says about the Iran–Iraq war:

 

“I have a general belief that we should not count Iranian Jews separately from the rest of the Iranian people. Whatever happens to the people of Iran also happens to Iranian Jews. Many Jews voluntarily went to the front (during the eight-year Iran–Iraq war) and were martyred. When bombs are falling on people, it doesn’t matter whether I’m Jewish or Muslim.”

 

Why is Iran an Exception?

In a world where a single cry of “Free Palestine” can lead to a synagogue being set on fire, the distinction between Zionism and Judaism has become an intellectual and moral necessity. The place where this distinction is not just in words, but embedded in practice, law, and culture — is Iran.

 

From the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Zionism is a political-racial project, whereas Judaism is a divine and respectable religion. This distinction was established from the very beginning of the Islamic Revolution, at a time when many Iranian Jews publicly expressed their opposition to Israel.

Iranian Jews hold an anti-Israel gathering in support of Palestinians at a Tehran Synagogue in Tehran, Iran, October 30, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Dr. More Sedgh, former representative of Iranian Jews in the Iranian parliament, refers to a historical point:

 

“Even before the Revolution, Iranian Jews had repeatedly declared their opposition to Israel’s policies. And if any emigration occurred from the Iranian Jewish community, it was not to the occupied territories. That’s why the Israeli government has been concerned and dissatisfied with the lack of enthusiasm among Iranian Jews for immigration to the Zionist country.”

 

He emphasizes:

“Anti-Semitism, contrary to popular belief, is a Western phenomenon, not an Eastern one. In the Middle Ages, Jews sought refuge in Iran, such as the Jewish rabbis who came to Iran. For example, the tomb of Mullah Moshe Halevi in Kashan and the tomb of Mullah Or Shraga in Yazd are evidence of Jews who came to Iran seeking refuge from persecution.”

 

But Dr. More Sedgh view on the matter is not merely historical; he also offers a candid analysis of global behavior toward Jews:

 

“Very often, it is the Zionists themselves who attack synagogues to create a sense of insecurity among Western Jews and force them to emigrate to Israel. Like in Iraq in the 1970s, where it was later revealed that the bombings of synagogues had been carried out by Zionist groups.”

Ben-Gurion, the primary national founder and first prime minister of the State of Israel/ WANA News Agency

He even quotes a bitter remark from David Ben-Gurion, the founder of Israel, which exposes a significant truth:

 

“Ben-Gurion said: ‘If I weren’t the founder of Israel, I would have liked to be an anti-Semite—because anti-Semites drive Jews to immigrate to Israel.’”

 

Being Iranian: A Red Line Beyond Religion

In an era where religion has become a tool for spreading hatred, Iran swims against the current. Not with deceptive slogans, but with a historical and cultural reality that has lived in the heart of its cities since ancient times: coexistence of religions.

 

In Iran, being Jewish is an identity—not a crime, not a sign of suspicion. Iranian Jews, above all, consider themselves Iranian—not just in terms of their ID cards, but in terms of their roots, loyalty, and shared destiny.

 

Dr. More Sedgh says a sentence that deserves special attention and should be inscribed on the gates of Iran:

 

“Anyone who casts a greedy eye on our national interests, our land, our air, or our water is considered a common enemy of us all… If someone is foolish enough to think of attacking Iran, they will face all of us, regardless of whether that enemy is America, Iraq, or Israel. Whoever attacks Iran is an enemy, and we will fight them.”

 

In a world where the line between religion and political ideology has been lost, Iran has shown that it’s possible to oppose Zionism without oppressing Jews; that it’s possible to criticize without spreading hatred; and that one can be Iranian—in any color or religion—and stand for this land.

 

In the shadow of hatred that has engulfed the world, Iran may be the only country that has become a shelter of peace for a minority—not a bastion of fear and suspicion.

Iranian Jews hold an anti-Israel gathering in support of Palestinians at a Tehran Synagogue in Tehran, Iran, October 30, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)