Republic of Hate - Podcast Seven - Qajar Rule and Blood Libel

Hello and welcome to Republic of Hate – Iran, Israel, and Anti-Semitism, in which we explore Iran’s hatred of Israel, Jews, and the West. These are essays by Dr. Mark Silinsky, president of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to the field of national security. And now to podcast seven, which begins with the late Qajar rule and a blood libel that terrified the Jewish community. The Late Qajar Rule              European Jewry was flourishing in the mid to late nineteenth century. Most of the social and economic restrictions that kept Jewish life confined in Persia were lifted from European life, even if only temporarily. Wealthy and influential European Jews and the organizations they supported aimed to assist fellow Jews in the broader Middle East. The most notable organization was Alliance Israelite Universelle.             In response to diplomatic pressure from Britain and its Jewish community, authorities took measures to protect Jews. In Isfahan province, Nasir al-Din Shah's son, Zill al-Sultan, threatened to punish any Muslim who harmed a Jew. Still, persecution and forced conversion of Jews continued. Toward the end of the 19th century, European popular presses, progressives, and statesmen condemned the edict requiring Jews to wear yellow badges and other stigmatizing clothing. These degrading restrictions, long removed from European life, were reintroduced by law in the early 1940s. For centuries, Jews had little support outside Persia and were often powerless to improve their living conditions. However, by the mid-1800s, European Jewish leaders used their influence and wealth to support the Persian Jewish community. British Jewish leader Sir Moses Montefiore, from the London Committee of the British Jews, along with leaders from the Paris Alliance Israelite Universelle, spearheaded efforts to prevent the forced conversion and confiscation of Jewish property. While Christian minorities in Persia found allies among missionaries and Christian activists in Europe and the U.S., and Zoroastrians secured patrons in parts of India, Jews mainly stood alone until a group of British and French Jews stepped in to provide help.             In 1865, Nasr ad-Din Shah issued a letter expressing concern about the plight of Persian Jews, and in 1874, he declared all his subjects equal before the law. However, Nasr ad-Din and his advisors and supporters still viewed Jews with contempt. Much of this disdain was rooted in Shia anti-Semitism, which emphasized ritual uncleanliness. He held Jews collectively responsible for the crimes of individuals. The court system did not trust the oath of a Jew. In many towns, Jews were barred from keeping shops in bazaars. Besides special taxes on non-Jews, wealthy Jews paid arbitrary and sometimes immediate taxes. Persian Jews lacked the political power or legal standing to contest or refuse these taxes. Laws also offered no protection for Jewish lives. In 1898, as part of a campaign by European Jews, the first Alliance Israelite school opened in Tehran. By fifty years later, there were thirty-four Alliance schools along with thirty-eight other Jewish schools. Under the Pahlavi dynasty in the twentieth century, the political and social conditions of Jews changed significantly. Reza Shah banned mass conversions of Jews and also accused Jews of being ritually unclean.             The Constitutional Revolution of 1906 aimed to ensure that Iranians of all religions and ethnicities had equal rights. In 1908, the constitution granted equal rights to the three recognized minority religions in Iran: Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. All three communities had the right to elect one delegate to parliament, although they could not participate in the election of other delegates. For many Jews and liberals, it seemed as though the twentieth century would bring about an irreversible change for the better. They were mistaken. The Blood Libel that Shocked the World             The October 30, 1910, Shiraz blood libel pogrom devastated Shiraz’s Jewish quarter. It began with false accusations that Jews had ritually murdered a Muslim girl. An angry mob, led by police, attacked the Jewish neighborhood. Throughout the day, neighbors looted Jewish homes, ransacked properties, and assaulted unprotected Jews. Most Jews managed to escape, but a dozen were killed, and over 50 were wounded with fists, knives, and bullets. The neighbors robbed the 6,000 Jews of Shiraz of all their belongings, pushing many into poverty.            The Shiraz pogrom drew international attention, raising awareness in the West about homicidal anti-Semitism in Persia. It also prepared many liberal activists for campaigns against blood libel in Russia. A continent away from Persia, Mendel Beilis, a humble Jewish handyman, was thrust into the international spotlight when he was arrested for allegedly killing a Christian boy for ritualistic purposes in Russia. Like the Jews of Shiraz, he had lived peacefully among his neighbors, unaware of how deeply rooted hatred could suddenly flare up. Beilis was tried and acquitted in 1913, as depicted in Bernard Malamud’s historical novel, The Fixer. Governments have criminalized the charge of blood libel as anti-Semitic, baseless, and hate speech. However, the accusation remains popular in Iran today.          This concludes this episode of Republic of Hate – Iran, Israel, and Anti-Semitism. We look forward to reading your comments. Dr. Silinsky’s latest book, Cauldron of Terror – Israel, Hamas, and the World, will be available for purchase in summer 2026. Nothing in this podcast or any of Dr. Silinsky’s other podcasts reflects the official position of the United States Department of War, the United States Intelligence Community, or any other U.S. government agency. On behalf of Kensington Security Consulting, thank you for listening, and goodbye until our next podcast.