“First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.” -Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jews, Christians and other Non-Muslims are persona non-grata among the general populace. Any persistent doubts can be erased with the passage of a new bill by Iran’s parliament which requires non-Muslims to be labeled with identity badges. Depending upon one’s faith: Jew, Christian, etc, Iranians would have to wear specific identifying markings sewn to the outside of their clothing. Final passage remains unclear as all laws passed by the Iranian parliament must be vetted by Tehran’s chief mullahs-in-charge (MIC). There can be no doubt, however, that the MICs will approve of this legislation and if they do it should come into affect by 2007.

Jewish and various human rights groups have called for international pressure on Iran to drop the proposal, but as we have seen with Iran on the nuclear question, outcry and international opposition serves only to strengthen the resolve of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the radical mullahs of Tehran.

Such legislation has been attempted before, and not only in Iran, ostensibly proponents of such legislation have claimed that it will protect non-Muslims and free them from compliance with Islamic law and custom, in reality these badges are tantamount to targets, identifying those whom the state views as free and clear for harassment and maltreatment. While the badges may simply say that John Q is a Jew or Christian, the badge might as well say: “Please beat, maim, kidnap or kill me…”
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