Jews in Teheran and Kuwait Live in Constant Fear of Arab Pogroms

The members of the Jewish communities of Teheran, capital of Iran, and Kuwait, a British protectorate situated on the Persian Gulf, live in constant fear of Arab pogroms, it was revealed today in messages received here by national Jewish institutions. The message from Teheran disclosed that the Jews there have threatened to appeal to the Soviet Embassy for aid unless they received adequate government protection against lynch mobs.

Earlier, following receipt of news of the U.N. decision on Palestine, the Teheran Jews had unsuccessfully appealed to the authorities for protection against Moslem demonstrators. When no such protection was forthcoming, Jewish community leaders informed the authorities that there was no other road open to them than to seek the aid of the Russian Ambassador. Apparently the warning was heeded since police guards were soon dispatched to the Jewish quarter.

The message from Kuwait reported that in an Arab attack on the Jewish quarter a few weeks ago one woman was murdered and 67 persons were wounded, while 31 of the community’s 55 houses were destroyed. The message from Kuwait appealed to the Jewish community of Palestine to do everything possible to prevent a pogrom similar to the one in Aden, in which some 75 Jews lost their lives. An earlier outbreak took place following the U.N. decision on Palestine in which many Jews were wounded and robbed.

There was no further trouble until the Iraq radio broadcast several programs Inciting the Arab population to renewed attacks. As a result the only synagogue in Kuwait was destroyed, the Torah was desecrated and all Jewish-owned shops were looted.