The Politics of Anti-Semitism: The Historical Record of Europe and Iran's Jewish Community Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagai claims that anti-Semitism is essentially a European phenomenon, citing deportations from England (1290), France (1306), Spain (1492) and Portugal (1496-97), burning of the Talmud and Black Death massacres. He contrasts this with Iran's 2,700-year Jewish history, roughly 100 synagogues, constitutional recognition and a reserved parliamentary seat. The article emphasizes that Judaism is not Israel, and criticism of Zionism is not automatically anti-Semitic. The fight against anti-Semitism, he claims, must not become a geopolitical instrument.

The Politics of Anti-Semitism: The Historical Record of Europe and Iran's Jewish Community Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagai claims that anti-Semitism is essentially a European phenomenon, citing deportations from England (1290), France (1306), Spain (1492) and Portugal (1496-97), burning of the Talmud and Black Death massacres. He contrasts this with Iran's 2,700-year Jewish history, roughly 100 synagogues, constitutional recognition and a reserved parliamentary seat. The article emphasizes that Judaism is not Israel, and criticism of Zionism is not automatically anti-Semitic. The fight against anti-Semitism, he claims, must not become a geopolitical instrument.