Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBAI52
2006-01-03 13:51:00
SECRET
Consulate Dubai
Cable title:
JEWS IN IRAN OKAY, BUT HAMPERED BY GLASS CEILING
how-toVZCZCXRO1408 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHDE #0052/01 0031351 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P R 031351Z JAN 06 FM AMCONSUL DUBAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7623 INFO RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0505
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2015
TAGS: IR PHUM PINR PGOV
SUBJECT: JEWS IN IRAN OKAY, BUT HAMPERED BY GLASS CEILING
REF: DUBAI 0336
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 000052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2015
TAGS: IR PHUM PINR PGOV
SUBJECT: JEWS IN IRAN OKAY, BUT HAMPERED BY GLASS CEILING
REF: DUBAI 0336
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: According to an Iranian Jewish couple, the
situation of Jews in Iran is pretty good, as long as they remain
apolitical. They are allowed to worship freely. The main
drawback of being an Iranian Jew is the inability to move up in
jobs with the Iranian government. End Summary.
Iranian Jews Doing Okay
--------------
2. (C) In mid-October and mid-December, Conoff spoke with an
Iranian Jewish couple from Esfahan-Eliyas Harounian and Sionit
Shamashian. She is a physician, while he is an engineer with the
National Iran Oil Company (NIOC) where he has worked for more
than 30 years. Much of both discussions focused on the current
situation of Jews in Iran. In addition, they discussed the
current situation in NIOC and the Oil Ministry and also gas
smuggling.
3. (C) Both told Conoff that the situation for Jews in Iran is
good. They enjoy relative freedom and do not suffer outright
persecution from government authorities or other Iranians. They
specifically mentioned that as long as Jews remain apolitical
and are good, law-abiding citizens authorities do not harass
them. Once they become politically active and participate in
activities that bring them to the attention of the government,
however, they have problems.
Religious Practice Not Impeded
--------------
4. (C) Jews in Iran are also allowed to worship relatively
freely. Harounian and his wife specifically commented that the
Iranian government had recently given money to repair one of the
main synagogues in Tehran. During the meeting on December 21,
Harounian unfortunately revealed that since his last discussion
with Conoff someone had recently vandalized their synagogue in
Esfahan. In mid-November, someone threw a bottle through one of
the synagogue's windows. Harounian inferred that he believed
this incident was a fairly random act, and gave no indication
that he felt it was carried out by Iranian government forces.
Glass Ceiling Hinders Rise of Jews in Government Jobs
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Like other religious minorities in Iran (Reftel),the key
problem Harounian and Shamashian see for Iranian Jews is the
lack of opportunity for upward mobility in government jobs.
Harounian has worked for NIOC for more than 30 years and
commented that his "students"-those employees he has trained
during his time with the company-are now his bosses because they
are Shia Muslims. He claimed that if he were Shia Muslim he
would have been oil minister or head of NIOC many years ago. He
admitted to Conoff that he was preparing to retire from NIOC in
the next few months. He has already been offered a new job with
a French company upon his retirement. Sadly, he revealed that
his superiors made it clear to him that he, a Jew, would not be
permitted to accept such an offer.
No Increase in Persecution Under Ahmadinejad
--------------
6. (C) During the meeting on 21 December, Harounian further
commented that to date Jews have not experienced increased
persecution since Ahmadinejad took office in August. In
addition, he stated that persecution has not increased in the
wake of Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel and holocaust denial comments
since October 26. Comment: It remains unclear if persecution of
Jews in Iran will increase if Ahmadinejad continues to spout
anti-Semitic rhetoric. Harounian did not believe it would, but
felt that anything was possible in Iran's current economic and
social climate. End Comment.
Comment
--------------
11. (C) Comment: It is unclear how many Iranian Jews apply for
visas to visit the US. Aside from not getting permission to join
a French company after retirement from NIOC, Harounian did not
indicate that Jews experienced difficulties getting passports to
leaving Iran. Religious affiliation is not asked on the visa
application. It is also not asked as part of the standard
interview questions, but may come up during the course of the
interview. Since arriving at Post in mid-August 2004, Conoff has
only interviewed two Iranian couples that identified themselves
as Jews. Responses from other posts in countries neighboring
Iran reveal similar numbers who have identified themselves as
being Iranian Jews. End Comment.
DUBAI 00000052 002 OF 002
ALLEN
DAVIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2015
TAGS: IR PHUM PINR PGOV
SUBJECT: JEWS IN IRAN OKAY, BUT HAMPERED BY GLASS CEILING
REF: DUBAI 0336
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary: According to an Iranian Jewish couple, the
situation of Jews in Iran is pretty good, as long as they remain
apolitical. They are allowed to worship freely. The main
drawback of being an Iranian Jew is the inability to move up in
jobs with the Iranian government. End Summary.
Iranian Jews Doing Okay
--------------
2. (C) In mid-October and mid-December, Conoff spoke with an
Iranian Jewish couple from Esfahan-Eliyas Harounian and Sionit
Shamashian. She is a physician, while he is an engineer with the
National Iran Oil Company (NIOC) where he has worked for more
than 30 years. Much of both discussions focused on the current
situation of Jews in Iran. In addition, they discussed the
current situation in NIOC and the Oil Ministry and also gas
smuggling.
3. (C) Both told Conoff that the situation for Jews in Iran is
good. They enjoy relative freedom and do not suffer outright
persecution from government authorities or other Iranians. They
specifically mentioned that as long as Jews remain apolitical
and are good, law-abiding citizens authorities do not harass
them. Once they become politically active and participate in
activities that bring them to the attention of the government,
however, they have problems.
Religious Practice Not Impeded
--------------
4. (C) Jews in Iran are also allowed to worship relatively
freely. Harounian and his wife specifically commented that the
Iranian government had recently given money to repair one of the
main synagogues in Tehran. During the meeting on December 21,
Harounian unfortunately revealed that since his last discussion
with Conoff someone had recently vandalized their synagogue in
Esfahan. In mid-November, someone threw a bottle through one of
the synagogue's windows. Harounian inferred that he believed
this incident was a fairly random act, and gave no indication
that he felt it was carried out by Iranian government forces.
Glass Ceiling Hinders Rise of Jews in Government Jobs
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Like other religious minorities in Iran (Reftel),the key
problem Harounian and Shamashian see for Iranian Jews is the
lack of opportunity for upward mobility in government jobs.
Harounian has worked for NIOC for more than 30 years and
commented that his "students"-those employees he has trained
during his time with the company-are now his bosses because they
are Shia Muslims. He claimed that if he were Shia Muslim he
would have been oil minister or head of NIOC many years ago. He
admitted to Conoff that he was preparing to retire from NIOC in
the next few months. He has already been offered a new job with
a French company upon his retirement. Sadly, he revealed that
his superiors made it clear to him that he, a Jew, would not be
permitted to accept such an offer.
No Increase in Persecution Under Ahmadinejad
--------------
6. (C) During the meeting on 21 December, Harounian further
commented that to date Jews have not experienced increased
persecution since Ahmadinejad took office in August. In
addition, he stated that persecution has not increased in the
wake of Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel and holocaust denial comments
since October 26. Comment: It remains unclear if persecution of
Jews in Iran will increase if Ahmadinejad continues to spout
anti-Semitic rhetoric. Harounian did not believe it would, but
felt that anything was possible in Iran's current economic and
social climate. End Comment.
Comment
--------------
11. (C) Comment: It is unclear how many Iranian Jews apply for
visas to visit the US. Aside from not getting permission to join
a French company after retirement from NIOC, Harounian did not
indicate that Jews experienced difficulties getting passports to
leaving Iran. Religious affiliation is not asked on the visa
application. It is also not asked as part of the standard
interview questions, but may come up during the course of the
interview. Since arriving at Post in mid-August 2004, Conoff has
only interviewed two Iranian couples that identified themselves
as Jews. Responses from other posts in countries neighboring
Iran reveal similar numbers who have identified themselves as
being Iranian Jews. End Comment.
DUBAI 00000052 002 OF 002
ALLEN
DAVIS