US religious group blasts Iran for threats to Esther and Mordechai tomb.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom condemned the Iranian regime on Wednesday for its reported threats to raze the tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan.
“USCIRF is troubled by reported threats to the tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan, Iran, and emphasizes the Iranian government’s responsibility to protect religious sites,” tweeted the US agency.
The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan, federal government entity that monitors, analyzes and reports on threats to religious freedom.
The Alliance for Rights of All Minorities in Iran tweeted on Sunday that,
“According to covering reports, members of the Iranian Basij attempted to raid the historic [tomb of Esther and Mordechai] site yesterday in an act of revenge against the Israelis Palestinian peace plan by US President Donald Trump.”
ARAM noted that “Iranian authorities are threatening to destroy the historic tomb of Ester and Mordechai in Hamadan and convert the site to a consular office for Palestine.”
The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the “covering reports” cited by ARAM.
Esther and Mordechai “were biblical Jewish heroes who saved their people from a massacre in a story known as Purim. Their burial site has been a significant Jewish landmark for Jews and history buffs around the world,” wrote ARAM.
The Iranian Christians News Agency (Mohabat) reported in early February that the Basij issued threats to the tomb.
“The Council for the Exploration of Student Mobilization of Hamadan Universities said in a statement to the United States, Israel and the Arab countries in the region that they will turn the tomb into a Palestinian Consulate if any action is taken.”
According to the Mohabat report, the Basji militia said the plan to raze the tomb was in response to the unveiling of the Palestinian-Israeli peace plan.
