Jews of Iran live in fear: Harsh threats and community panic exposed

A new investigation reveals the campaign of persecution and psychological terror experienced by the Jewish community in Iran, which currently numbers about 20,000 people. Harsh testimonies collected from dozens of community members living in constant fear point to a dramatic escalation in regime harassment: from a wave of dismissals, extortion, and security interrogations to physical violence and deliberate vandalism against businesses and private homes.

At the center of the testimonies are incidents of looting and armed assaults. Jalil, a shop owner in Tehran who was vandalized twice, shared that the words "Zionists, get out of here" were sprayed on his walls. In another severe case, a jewelry store was broken into by members of the Basij militia who seized property, telling the owner with chilling irony that it was "spoils of war" while directly threatening his family.

Persecution does not spare children in schools. Roya, a mother from Tehran, testified that her 10-year-old son was beaten by a teacher after he did not shout slogans of hatred loudly enough and did not participate in the burning of Israeli flags. At the same time, many citizens were summoned for interrogations, fired from their jobs, and expelled from academic institutions due to browsing history or social media monitoring.

Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, explained that the community has been taken hostage:

"They must prove absolute loyalty to the regime. They are accustomed to living a life of lies in order to save themselves."

According to him, cutting ties with Israel has become an existential condition, as family members understand that "not being in contact is a sign of safety."