Navigate to News section

Iranians Say the Jews Are Enchanting

Unfortunately, they mean in that black magic way

by
Adam Chandler
April 30, 2013
'Hocus Pocus' (obviously).(IMDB)
'Hocus Pocus' (obviously).(IMDB)

Gavriel Fiske is reporting on a phenomenon sweeping the Islamic Republic of Iran that harkens back to 17th-century America: Witchcraft! Or at least the accusations of witchcraft.

Who might these shadowy practitioners of dark magic be? Well, the Jews.

In a speech to religious students on April 20, Mehdi Taeb, who heads a think tank and is considered close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said that Jews are powerful sorcerers who have used their abilities to attack Iran. He noted that while “the Jews” had yet to unleash their full powers, their abilities were negated after they tried to use magic to interfere with the Iranian elections of 2008 and 2009.



“The Jews are currently subjecting us to an unprecedented trial,” Taeb said, according to a translation provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute. “As you read in the Koran, [King] Solomon ruled the world… and God ordered a group of sorcerers to come out against him. The Jews have the greatest powers of sorcery, and they make use of this tool.”

The accusations don’t stop with Taeb and appear semi-frequently in the Iranian state-run press. But, rather than be bothered, I think we should take this charge in stride. Maybe we are enchanting. Maybe it’s a good thing.

Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.