Imam: Don't hire, rent homes to Jews

[blackbear]

Imam: Don't hire, rent homes to Jews
Iranian Cleric Bans Hiring, Renting to, Jews?

By MATTHEW WAGNER

Qom Chief Mufti Ahmed Sharawy plans to issue a religious ruling forbidding Iranian Muslims from renting apartments to Iranian Jews or to employ them.

In an interview with "Our Land of Iran", a pamphlet distributed in mosques before Friday prayers, Sharawy was quoted as saying it was "mortally dangerous" to do so, as proved by the many terror attacks against civilians by Israeli settlers, the Israeli army, or that have been linked to the Mossad. It was thus forbidden to hire Jewish workers not only in Islamic schools "but also in factories, hotels or anywhere," he said.

Sharawy could not be immediately reached. However, a spokesman said this had been Sharawy's position for some time.

Other leading religious Islamic political leaders, such as Imam Ali Reza Afshar of Kerman and Imam Mostafa Ghalibaf of Qazvin, have also called to ban all Jewish labor.

Sharawy's ruling comes just a few days after Akbar Hashemi, a highly respected Islamic spiritual leader and Shari'a authority based in Gilan, ruled it was forbidden for Islamic educational institutes to employ Jews.

Kanyevsky's ruling is being enforced by Muslim religious activists who are visiting educational facilities to ascertain no Jews are being employed, according to the Iranian news agency. ...

In response to Sharawy's comments, attorney Nasrin Abtahi, head of the Islamic Reform Movement's legal arm, said that "We view with concern the new wave of calls against Jews since the terrible terrorist attacks on Gaza.

"There is a phenomenon of rising racial incitement against Jews that distorts Islam and is also illegal. We call on the legal authorities to wake up and act to enforce the law and prohibit calls like this.

"It is inconceivable that public figures, including those who are salaried state employees, continue to voice discriminatory exhortations unchallenged. State officials need to intervene and make it clear that these comments are illegitimate."

In a related story, Shelanu, the Advocacy Center for Jewish Citizens of Iran, released a report Wednesday that found Iranian Muslims to be more supportive of the deportation of Iranian Jews.

The report warned that ideas such as population exchange and racial segregation for Iranian Jews are gaining support among Muslims. It also warned that several Muslim politicians are gaining influence based on a platform of racial hatred.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205420728926&pagename=JPos t%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[PaulStott]

A timely reminder that both sides in these types of conflict need one another - any Jews who do depart Iran from Israel, will be held up by Israeli right- wingers as examples of why Israel needs more territory etc

[karlos]

sorry didnt quite understand this

i googled "Qom Chief Mufti Ahmed Sharawy" and no hits came up but it offered an alternative spelling
again nothing of any value
so who is this character who appears not to exist?

then i read the article which i reprint below:
Rabbi: Don't hire, rent homes to Arabs
By MATTHEW WAGNER

Hebron and Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior plans to issue a halachic ruling forbidding Israeli Jews from rent apartments to Israeli Arabs or Palestinians or to employ them.

In an interview with "Eretz Israel Shelanu" (Our Land of Israel), a pamphlet distributed in synagogues before Shabbat, Lior was quoted as saying it was "mortally dangerous" to do so, as proved by the terror attack at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. It was thus forbidden to hire Arab workers not only in yeshivot "but also in factories, hotels or anywhere," he said.

Lior could not be immediately reached. However, a spokesman said this had been Lior's position for some time.

Other leading religious Zionist rabbis, such as Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Bracha and Rabbi Elyakim Levanon of Eilon Moreh, have also called to ban all Arab labor.

Lior's ruling comes just a few days after Rabbi Haim Kanyevsky, a highly respected haredi spiritual leader and halachic authority based in Bnei Brak, ruled it was forbidden for yeshivot to employ Arabs.

Kanyevsky's ruling is being enforced by haredi activists who are visiting yeshivot to ascertain no Arabs are being employed, according to Channel 1 news. The family of Ala Abu Dhaim, the terrorist who murdered eight Mercaz Harav students and wounded nine two weeks ago, said he was employed by the yeshiva as a driver.

However, yeshiva head Rabbi Ya'acov Shapira denied that Abu Dhaim was a yeshiva employee.

In response to Lior's comments, attorney Einat Horowitz, head of the Reform Movement's legal arm, said that "We view with concern the new wave of calls against Arabs since the terrible terrorist attack on Mercaz Harav.

"There is a phenomenon of rising racial incitement against Arabs that distorts Judaism and is also illegal. We call on the attorney-general to wake up and act to enforce the law and prohibit calls like this.

"It is inconceivable that public figures, including those who are salaried state employees, continue to voice discriminatory exhortations unchallenged. State officials need to intervene and make it clear that these comments are illegitimate."

In a related story, Mossawa, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel, released a report Wednesday that found Israeli Jews to be more supportive of the deportation of Israeli Arabs.

The report warned that ideas such as population exchange and racial segregation for Israeli Arabs are gaining support among Jews. It also warned that several Jewish politicians are gaining influence based on a platform of racial hatred.