by Walter Onubogu

Created on: October 30, 2009   Last Updated: November 01, 2009

The Iranian conference denying the Holocaust was outlandish and had just one purpose: to provoke world opinion and especially rattle the Israelis. Inviting the high rank and file of the international extreme right elite (fascists like Ku Klux Clan member David Duke) along with other holocaust deniers to Theran to indulge in such nonsense, certainly undermined the cleric's reputation and wish to improve relations with the West.

However we must know, that the ruling Iranian clerical leadership and establishment is deeply divided about such acts. The Reformist movement under former President Mohammad Khatami and his successor Mir Hossein Mousavi were quick to loath and condemn Mr Amadinejad and his hardliners for comments made, which relegated Iran even more to the periphery. Although they harbour no deep love for Israel nor do they openly call for restoration of diplomatic ties with Israel ( which were severed after the Shah of Iran was toppled from power in 1979), they still do realise what harm Amadinejad's maverick and populist behaviour has done the country's standing in the world.

Except for the minority of die hard supporters of the clerical regime,the overwhelming majority of Iranians (among them even moderately minded conservative ones) were highly critical of the conference and Amadinejad, because in their view this regime uses this to re-validate its existence, it needs designated enemies, like US and Israel to ensure its own survival and rally the regime supporters, and doesn't focus on solving real issues, like high unemployment, poverty, inflation. Iranians are actually quite tired of seeing this illegitimate Islamic government act as the flag bearers of Palestinian or anti Zionist causes in the world, while neglecting if not repressing what matters to Iranians most ( social and political freedoms, economic prosperity) .

It is quite ironic, that the ancient Iranians under the Achamenids (King Cyrus the Great) actually liberated Israelis from Babylonian captivity, helped their repatriation and financed the re-construction of Jewish temples in the holy land. More than 2500 years later, with the Iranian monarchy gone, and an virulently anti-Zionist Islamic regime, holding the tight grip over Iranian affairs of state in Theran, the situation is reversed.

Iranians of Jewish faith (1%) must be perplexed and finding themselves between a rock and a hard place. They are considered Iranians first and foremost, but can't really speak out without fear of retribution. In contrast to the rest of the Middle East where Jews are locally persecuted and not tolerated, under the Islamic constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the religious minorities, their religious rights - freedoms are guaranteed and protected by the state. It is a baffling contradiction.

Learn more about this author, Walter Onubogu.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.