New Iranian Law Would Require Non-Muslim Insignia

On November 14, 1939, the President of Lódz decreed that all Jews must wear arm bands or badges with a Jewish star.
Photo credit: Meczenstwo Walka, Zaglada Zydów Polsce 1939-1945. Poland. No. 43.I don't even know what to say or think about this:

"Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."

The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.

Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth."

From the Jerusalum Post:

"Furthermore, according to the law, the Iranian government has envisioned that all Iranians wear "standard Islamic garments" designed to remove ethnic and class distinctions.

The purpose for the law was to prevent Muslims from becoming najis "unclean" by accidentally shaking the hands of non-Muslims in public."

It's almost near impossible not to draw Nazi Germany comparisons. Nuclear weapons programs, refusing the recognize the Jewish state, and now this. First comes identification, then segregation, and then...? What exactly is our White House administration's foreign policy on all this? I'd like to hear from all our representatives on Capitol Hill on the subject of Iran. The American public doesn't need political games and posturing. They need real foreign policy. We shouldn't have to wait until the 2006 elections are over before real work is accomplished.

Stores owned by Jews had to be marked with a Star of David, another part of the increasing segregation of Jews.
Photo credit: Meczenstwo Walka, Zaglada Zydów Polsce 1939-1945. Poland. No. 49.
UPDATE: US concerned over reports of Iranian dress law

"The State Department said Friday it is concerned about reports that Iran's parliament is considering legislation to require non-Muslims in the country to wear badges.

Spokesman Sean McCormack said any such measure would be "despicable" and carry "clear echoes of Germany under Hitler."

US government statistics indicate that 98 percent of Iranians are Islamic. Other faiths are Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i.

McCormack said he could not comment further because the precise nature of the proposal is unclear.

"I don't have all the facts," he said."

UPDATE II:Democrats ask Bush for intelligence update on Iran

"Senate Democrats asked President George W. Bush on Friday to order a new U.S. intelligence report on Iran to avoid the errors that plagued prewar assessments on Iraq.

Five Democrats, headed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, wrote to Bush requesting a new National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, while the United States is involved in an international diplomatic effort to get Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions.

The Democrats want an NIE, the intelligence community's most authoritative written judgment, to address several points including Iran's nuclear program and its military and defense capabilities."

UPDATE III: Be sure to see Iranian Dress Code Revisited for more updates.