Outrage after Jewish custodian of tomb of Esther, Mordechai in Iran faces antisemitic abuse

Nejad Rassad, one of only a few dozen Jews remaining in Hamadan in western Iran, was subjected to antisemitic harassment by an Uzbek national outside the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, according to footage of the incident circulated by Iranian media this week.

The individual was identified by Independent Persian as Bakhtavar Qazaqov, who later published a video apologizing to the Iranian people for the incident.

“You [Jews] consider all of humanity to be animals and your servants,” Qazaqov told Rassad, the mausoleum’s custodian, in a video he recorded.

Qazaqov also questioned Rassad about how many Jews live in Hamadan and replied, “Thank God,” when Rassad answered that there were very few left.

The Uzbek national also told Rassad that he had appeared in court in his home country after attacking a Jewish man, alleging that he expressed regret before the judge and pledged to “never beat a dog again.”

Outrage erupts on social media

Following significant outrage on social media over the interaction, Qazaqov posted an apology video and claimed he had returned to the tomb to personally apologize to Rassad.

“As your fellow citizen, I apologize to you for having shown disrespect. I apologize to all the people of Hamadan and to all the dear people of Iran, as your fellow countryman,” he said.

Independent Persian noted that Qazaqov appeared to have some relationship with Iranian diplomats in his home country. In June, he appeared in photos gifting a portrait of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Hassan Safarkhani, the cultural relations adviser at the Islamic Republic of Iran’s embassy in Tashkent.

In an Instagram post, Qazaqov also claimed that he had spoken with Safarkhani about “Iran’s historical attractions, rich culture, and tourism potential” and promised to make more videos touring Iran.

Rassad, a former teacher, was notably interviewed by The New York Times in 2000, where he refused to comment on the arrest of 13 Jews from his community that authorities alleged were spying for Israel. At the time, he was one of only 35 members of the Jewish community remaining in Hamadan.