Representatives of Iran’s Jewish community announced they will participate in the funeral ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while also revealing that they recently sent a letter to his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, expressing concerns over recent anti-Jewish rhetoric.

Homayoun Sameyah, the Jewish representative in Iran’s parliament, said the community would attend the official funeral events alongside other recognized religious minorities.

“In coordination with officials from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and representatives of the religious minority communities, we will participate in the funeral and memorial events for the leader of the Islamic Revolution,” Sameyah said.

He noted that diplomats, political leaders, religious figures, and representatives of Iran’s recognized minority communities would also be present at various ceremonies.

Sameyah praised the late Iranian leader’s treatment of religious minorities, saying, “During Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership, directives were issued to safeguard the rights of religious minorities in various institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Tehran Municipality, and other government bodies.”

He also claimed Khamenei maintained the distinction between Jews and Zionists, continuing a policy established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

“As Ayatollah Khomeini always distinguished between the Jews of Iran and the Zionist movement, the late leader continued this approach and did not allow misconceptions about the Jewish community to spread,” Sameyah said.

According to Sameyah, the Jewish community recently became concerned over renewed anti-Jewish statements in Iranian media and public discourse. He said he sent a letter to Mojtaba Khamenei requesting that the distinction between Judaism and Zionism continue to be emphasized.

“Fortunately, after that, these phenomena decreased significantly, and this distinction received greater attention in the media and official slogans,” he said.

Sameyah concluded by saying Iran’s Jewish community considers itself part of the Iranian nation and expressed hope that “under the leadership of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the path of respect, peace, and mutual understanding among all religions and sectors of society will continue.”

Iran’s Jewish community, estimated at several thousand members, is one of the country’s officially recognized religious minorities and has reserved representation in the Iranian parliament.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)