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Memri
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Memri
The Iranian Regime Spreads Antisemitism: Supreme Leader Khamenei Depicts Zionists And Jews As Rats; Senior Journalist Says Jews And Israel Are Using Witchcraft Against Iran
Introduction Along with the classic antisemitic motifs, particularly Nazi motifs, used by Iranian speakers, such as comparing Jews or Zionists to rats, mice, and other vermin, or statements that Zionists are "humanoid" – like the Nazi designation of Jews as untermenschen, or "subhuman" – Iranian antisemitism is also fed by Shi'ite religious sources, incorporating elements from Islamic-Iranian folklore. Thus, for example, Iranian regime officials claim that the Jews and Zionists, as the enemies of Islam, practice witchcraft and use incantations, and enlist the supernatural to achieve their nefarious ends. These claims are part of the regime's cohesive ideological perspective, aimed at instilling a religious-political narrative according to which Jews and Israelis constitute not only political rivals, but dark, corrupt, and Satanic forces. On July 17, 2025, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei posted on his X account an antisemitic AI-generated graphic depicting Israeli Jewish civilians and soldiers in a stormy sea clinging for dear life to a sinking coffin wrapped in an American flag, as Iranian missiles rain down upon them. A few days previously, Abdollah Ganji, a journalist affiliated with Iran's ideological circles and advisor to Tehran Mayor Ali Reza Zakani posted on his X account an antisemitic message stating that the Jews and Israel are using witchcraft and demons in a war against Iran. Ganji is also former editor in chief of the IRGC-affiliated Javan daily as well as of the Hamshahri Tehran newspaper, which has the widest circulation in all Iran. His post went viral, with over 1.2 million views. Manifestations Of Iranian Antisemitism: Zionists Depicted As Rats And Employing Witchcraft The age-old accusation that the Jews, and by extension the Israelis, use witchcraft and magic powers to achieve their goals, is widespread throughout the Iranian regime and its religious establishment, and continues to reverberate across all sectors in Iran. The most prominent official reiterating this accusation is Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; he validated this in statements on March 22, 2020 when he said: "There are enemies who are demons and enemies who are human – and they are aiding one another."[1] Close associates of Khamenei have claimed that the Jews have supernatural abilities that they are using against Iran. For example, Mehdi Taeb, director of the Ammar Headquarters think tank that advises Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said in 2013 that the Jews are the most powerful sorcerers in the world and are using their powers to attack Iran.[2] That same year, the Reza News website, which is affiliated with the Howz-e Ilmiyya seminary that trains the regime's Shi'ite clerics, published an article stating that the Jews' supernatural powers are passed down from generation to generation with the aim of controlling the world, nature, and even God's decisions.[3] This Iranian Shi'ite narrative provides a profound ideological justification for enmity towards Israel and for the call to destroy it, shaping this as a religious and moral obligation. In this way, demonizing Israel and the Jews becomes an integral part of the struggle led by Iran and the resistance front that present themselves as emissaries of divine justice fighting the forces of evil until the "Zionist entity" is eradicated.[4] Below are translations of the AI-generated graphic posted on X by Khamenei and of the X post by journalist Abdollah Ganji about the Jews and Israel using witchcraft and demons against Iran. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Post: Israelis As Rats On A Sinking U.S. Coffin Khamenei's July 17, 2025 post on X, of a graphic depicting Israeli Jewish civilians and soldiers as rats holding on to a coffin wrapped in an American flag sinking in a stormy sea as Iranian missiles rain down on them included a quote from a speech by Khamenei the previous day. Khamenei's post ( July 17, 2025) He had said: "When [Iran's] blow is mighty, [it means] that we have entered the war with force. The clear proof of this is that the Zionist regime, the opposing side in the war, was forced to turn to America for help. Had it [the Zionist regime] not broken and fallen to the ground, had it not needed (help), had it been able to defend itself, it would not have appealed to America like that. It appealed to America – that is, it understood that it could not deal with the Islamic Republic [of Iran]. And also in the matter of America – it was the same. Even when America attacked, our retaliatory blow struck it in a very sensitive [place]..."[5] Journalist Abdollah Ganji: "Several Sheets Of Paper Were Found In The Streets Of Tehran – They Were Witchcraft With Jewish Symbols" Ganji wrote on X on July 9, 2025: "A strange phenomenon! After the recent war, several sheets of paper were found in the streets of Tehran – they were witchcraft with Jewish symbols. "Also, in the first year of the Gaza war, a report was leaked about [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's meeting with mysticism experts. "A few years ago, Supreme Leader [Khamenei] said that hostile countries and Western and Hebrew intelligence services are using the occult and demons for espionage purposes."[6] July 9, 2025 * Ayelet Savyon is Director of the MEMRI Iran Media Project; N. Katirachi is a Research Fellow at MEMRI.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages
TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have urged residents to limit water consumption as the country grapples with severe shortages amid an ongoing heatwave, local media said Sunday. Water scarcity is a major issue in Iran, particularly in arid provinces in the country's south, with shortages blamed on mismanagement and overexploitation of underground resources as well as the growing impact of climate change. On Saturday, the national meteorological service said Iran was experiencing its hottest week of the year so far, with temperatures exceeding 50C in some areas. 'People should conserve water to avoid drops in pressure,' said Tehran city council chair Mehdi Chamran, according to the ISNA news agency. Authorities across Iran have issued similar appeals in recent days, asking residents in several provinces to limit water usage. Tehran's provincial water management company called to reduce usage by 'at least 20 percent' to help ease the shortages. In a statement, it said that 'the reservoirs of the dams supplying water to Tehran are currently at their lowest level in a century' following years of steady decline in rainfall. Javan, a conservative newspaper, reported on Saturday that authorities had reduced water pressure in parts of the capital in a bid to mitigate the crisis, resulting in 'water outages lasting between 12 and 18 hours' in some areas.
The Star
16-07-2025
- The Star
Indonesia police detain 12 suspects over baby trafficking ring linked to Singapore
The perpetrators are accused of moving the babies to Pontianak city on Borneo island and then sending more than a dozen of them onwards to Singapore. -HERALOEBSS/X BANDUNG: Indonesian authorities have detained 12 suspects after uncovering an alleged baby trafficking ring that sent more than a dozen infants to Singapore, a police official told AFP on Tuesday (July 15). The case was discovered after a parent reported an alleged baby kidnapping to police, which led them to a suspect who admitted to trading 24 infants, said West Java police's director of general criminal investigation, Surawan, who goes by one name. The perpetrators are accused of moving the babies to Pontianak city on Borneo island and then sending more than a dozen of them onwards to Singapore, said the official. "Based on documents, 14 (babies) were sent to Singapore," he said. "The age range is clearly under one year old, with some three months old, five months old, and six months old." Authorities managed to rescue five babies in Pontianak and one in Tangerang, a city near the Indonesian capital Jakarta. They also arrested a dozen suspects across Jakarta, Pontianak and the Javan city of Bandung. "They are a syndicate, a baby trafficking syndicate. They each have their own roles," said Surawan. Some of the suspects were allegedly tasked with finding the babies, while others cared for them, sheltered them or prepared civil registration documents, such as family cards and passports. The syndicate had been in operation since 2023, Surawan said, based on suspect statements. Police said they sought out "parents or mothers who refuse to care for their children" in return for money. Surawan said the parent who reported a kidnapping "actually had an agreement" with the smugglers before their child's birth, but reported them when they did not receive payment afterwards. Human trafficking is also a domestic problem across Indonesia. In one of the worst cases in recent years, at least 57 people were found caged on a palm oil plantation in North Sumatra in 2022. - AFP
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Straits Times
Indonesia police detain 12 suspects over baby trafficking ring
Find out what's new on ST website and app. BANDUNG, Indonesia - Indonesian authorities have detained 12 suspects after uncovering an alleged baby trafficking ring that sent more than a dozen infants to Singapore, a police official told AFP on July 15. The case was discovered after a parent reported an alleged baby kidnapping to police, which led them to a suspect who admitted to trading 24 infants, said West Java police's director of general criminal investigation, Mr Surawan, who goes by one name. The perpetrators are accused of moving the babies to Pontianak city on Borneo island and then sending more than a dozen of them onwards to Singapore, said the official. 'Based on documents, 14 (babies) were sent to Singapore,' he said. 'The age range is clearly under one year old, with some three months old, five months old, and six months old.' Authorities managed to rescue five babies in Pontianak and one in Tangerang, a city near the Indonesian capital Jakarta. They also arrested a dozen suspects across Jakarta, Pontianak and the Javan city of Bandung. 'They are a syndicate, a baby trafficking syndicate. They each have their own roles,' said Mr Surawan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong Singapore Economic headwinds do not dampen outlook for new Marina Bay development: Las Vegas Sands president Business MAS records net profit of $19.7 billion, fuelled by investment gains Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms and 1 lawyer over seized properties Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar Singapore Singapore CDL's long-time director Phillip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years Some of the suspects were allegedly tasked with finding the babies, while others cared for them, sheltered them or prepared civil registration documents, such as family cards and passports. The syndicate had been in operation since 2023, Mr Surawan said, based on suspect statements. Police said they sought out 'parents or mothers who refuse to care for their children' in return for money. Mr Surawan said the parent who reported a kidnapping 'actually had an agreement' with the smugglers before their child's birth, but reported them when they did not receive payment afterwards. Human trafficking is also a domestic problem across South-east Asia's biggest economy, a sprawling nation of more than 17,000 islands. In one of the worst cases in recent years, at least 57 people were found caged on a palm oil plantation in North Sumatra in 2022. AFP
Daily Tribune
14-07-2025
- Daily Tribune
Indonesia Foils Smuggling of Over 1,200 Endangered Birds
Indonesian authorities have stopped an attempt to smuggle more than 1,200 endangered Javan white-eye birds, officials said on Sunday. The birds were found on Friday packed into eight cages at a port on Flores island in eastern Indonesia. Sadly, 140 of them had already died. The Javan white-eye is a popular songbird and is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is also protected by Indonesia's environment and forestry ministry. The birds were being sent by ferry to Surabaya, a city on Java island. "The person responsible has not yet been caught," said Joko Waluyo, a conservation official. "The total number of birds was 1,260, and 140 were dead." The surviving birds have since been released back into the wild. 'This release helps protect the species and raise public awareness,' Joko added. Poaching or trading protected animals in Indonesia can lead to up to 15 years in prison. Illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction continue to threaten many species in the country, including orangutans and Sumatran elephants.
