The Tomb of Esther and Mordechai was reportedly set ablaze, US Jewish groups said Friday.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency seemed to confirm the arson attack on Saturday. The report was taken down from its site a several of hours later. However it did report that there was no serious damage done to the shrine, according to US-backed Radio Farda.
According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Iranian activists confirmed the arson attack, which happened on Thursday, the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel according to the Gregorian calendar.
“Historically, Muslims safeguarded Jewish holy sites from Persia to Morocco, including the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai. But all that has changed under the Ayatollahs and the terrorist movements they have spawned. In recent years there have been annual anti-Semitic protests at the Holy Site where Jews have come to pray peacefully for hundreds of years,” the Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a statement.
The ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt said: “Disturbing reports from #Iran that the tomb of Esther & Mordechai, a holy Jewish site, was set afire overnight. We hope that the the authorities bring the perpetrators of this #antisemitic act to justice & commit to protecting the holy sites of all religious minorities in Iran.”
Disturbing reports from #Iran that the tomb of Esther & Mordechai, a holy Jewish site, was set afire overnight. We hope that the the authorities bring the perpetrators of this #antisemitic act to justice & commit to protecting the holy sites of all religious minorities in Iran.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) May 15, 2020