Dear Sister,
I have recently come back from a three week holiday in Israel, while you are in Iran. I am writing to you to express how I am appalled that you can sleep at night in such a country, where it has some of the worst human rights abuses in the world. Not only that, but the ayatollahs of Iran vow to destroy Israel.
Let me give you an account of my experience and add in some facts about Israel. I went to several towns and cities. I spoke to African migrants, all of whom unanimously claim that they have never faced any discrimination and are grateful to Israel for giving them the chance to live life like everyone else. The same cannot be said about African-Iranians, who are frowned upon and racially abused in Iran because they are not part of the 'Aryan race'.
Women in Israel are free to dress however they want, whether in a burkha or a bikini. You don't need me to tell you how women are treated in Iran, where it is compulsory to wear the hijab. Not to mention the rampant honour killings, child brides and of course the systematic rape of Christian women by revolutionary guards, as the campaign against Christians continues, due to some Muslims in Iran converting to Christianity.
Needless to say that in Israel, a Jew can be an atheist without the fear of being arrested, interrogated or tortured. In Iran the civilians don't have that privilege. Furthermore, Christians in Israel can wear a cross publicly, enjoy equal rights and even proselytes (Don't believe the media about 'strictly no proselytizing in Israel).
This leads me to the Bahais. In Haifa, there is a Bahai centre, where Bahais both in Israel and tourists come to visit, without the fear of being harassed by anyone. In Iran, by contrast, Bahais are terrified! Not only from the institutional persecution by the government, but also by their fellow citizens, the Persian Muslims, who openly discriminate against them.
Finally onto the Arabs. The Western media, and to some degree mainstream media in Israel, always try to spread propaganda to demonize Israel. From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to Hebron, I saw Arabs and Jews get along, working together, shopping together, drinking together, etc. There are no 'Jew only roads' or 'Jew only streets', all that is false!
In Iran, however, the Arabs are discriminated against, removed from their homes, to change the demographics and to Aryanise Khuzestan, despite the fact that the Arabs in Iran have proven their loyalties (joining Persians in the fight against Saddam's forces in the Iran-Iraq war). Even Mandaeans are discriminated against, for the same reason; they are accused of being Arabs, when they are not, also because their religion is outside of 'the people of the book'.
All that said, I hope this will sow the seeds of doubt on your current views of both Iran and Israel. As you are aware drums are beating and we don't know if either Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities, or if Iran will order its proxy Hezbollah to start firing rockets. We do know, however, that there are Persian soldiers on the Lebanese border. Recently in Syria, Israel struck a convoy near a base in Syria killing six Persian soldiers. Things may escalate. I hope, by the time that it does, that you would see sense, though I have grave doubts.
Regards,
Orim Shimshon
