Iranian authorities have summoned and interrogated at least 35 Jewish citizens in Tehran and Shiraz over their contact with relatives in Israel, the US-based human rights group HRANA said on Friday.
The wave of interrogations began on Monday and marks one of the largest known crackdowns on Iran’s Jewish community since the early years of the Islamic Republic, HRANA said. Security agents told those summoned to avoid phone or online communication with family members abroad, according to a source close to the families.
The action comes amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel and appears to contradict the government’s claims that Iranian Jews enjoy equal rights. HRANA said the pressure has triggered serious fear within the community.
Iran criminalized travel to Israel in 2011, with penalties including prison and passport bans. Many Iranian Jews have relatives there due to decades of emigration.
The Tehran Jewish Committee declined to comment. But a senior figure in the community told HRANA the scope of the summonses is unprecedented and has caused deep concern about social and psychological safety.
Authorities have not explained the purpose of the interrogations. Some families were told the actions were preventive, not punitive, and tied to recent conflict. However, human rights lawyers argue that the measures could constitute religious and ethnic discrimination under international law, according to HRANA.
