As previously reported by Matzav.com, Iranian officials have sentenced a Jewish man to death, with the execution scheduled for as early as Monday.
This decision has sent ripples of fear through the small Jewish community in Iran, while Jewish expatriates and advocates in New York and Israel are raising alarms over what they perceive as a grave miscarriage of justice.
Arvin Ghahremani, 20, was attacked by seven men, including a 40-year-old man who owed him money, while he was at the gym in Kermanshah, approximately 500 miles from Tehran, in November 2022, explained Rabbi Danny Yiftach, who translated the Iranian court documents. According to Rabbi Yiftach, the alleged victim, Amir Shokri, who was named by Iran Human Rights, drew a knife and stabbed Ghahremani. In self-defense, Ghahremani disarmed Shokri and fatally stabbed him.
Ghahremani was subsequently convicted of being an “accomplice to the intentional murder of a Muslim” and for “intentionally inflicting nonfatal injuries.” The court handed down a death sentence, which is final and cannot be appealed.
There is an Iranian law that could spare Ghahremani’s life if Shokri’s family agrees to accept financial compensation, but so far they have refused, Matzav.com has learned.
With only 8,000 Jews among 88.5 million Iranians, the Jewish community in Iran is extremely small and deeply concerned about Ghahremani’s fate as the execution date approaches.
“This morning I spent an hour responding to all the WhatsApp messages I’m receiving about this issue,” Yiftach said. “This has gotten everybody very nervous in Iran.”
Dr. Homayoun Sameyah, the Jewish representative in Iran’s Parliament, has sought the intervention of several Muslim lawmakers to negotiate with Shokri’s family, even offering to construct a mosque in Shokri’s honor. Despite these efforts, no agreement has been reached, a source told Matzav.com.
Rabbi Yiftach expressed hope that the Iranian authorities might seize this opportunity to correct an injustice. He emphasized that a different outcome might have been possible if the case had been handled in Tehran, expressing faith in the central government’s goodwill.
“Ever since the revolution Iran has said they’re not against the Jewish people — they’re just anti-Zionist. Now is their chance to prove that.”
Rabbi Yiftach added, “The Talmud tells us even when there is a sword at your neck, don’t give up hope.”
All are asked to daven for Arvin Netanel ben Sonia Tziyona.
{Dov T. Heller – Matzav.com}