MP: Iran, only country where Jews worship freely

Tehran, Jan 16, IRNA – Representative of the Jewish minority in the Iranian Parliament Siyamak Marre Sedq said Iran is the only country in the world where Jews enjoy full freedom to perform their social, cultural and ritual activities.

Sedq made the remarks in a meeting with the Governor of Isfahan Province, Alireza Zaker Esfahani, on Friday.

He said Jews enjoyed even more privileges in Isfahan due to their long-standing presence in the province which transcends two millennia and also thanks to Jews’ contribution in cultural and medical activities as well as in the cultural-religious heritage including synagogues that are built in styles inspired by the Islamic architecture.

Referring to a visit to New York when he was accompanying President Mahmdoud Ahmdinejad, he said many politicians as well as ordinary people were surprised to hear that Iran’s Jews were able to carry out all sorts of their social, sports and cultural activities without being subject to particular and extra security and political considerations inside their worshipping places.

The governor, too, pointed to the active and free presence of Iranian jews in all activities nationwide and said followers of divine religions should work to stop formation of derivative and forged religions which are rapidly spreading in the West.

Saying that worshipping God is a common point all religions share, he said followers of monotheistic religions could satisfy the need of the contemporary world for spiritual material.

During the meeting the representative of the local Jews, too, said the Jewish community in the city was after building a special complex to be allocated to Jews sports and religious events.

About two thousand Jews are currently living in Isfahan province who enjoy full freedom in carrying out their religion./end