JERUSALEM, June 10 (JTA) — Israel is seeking clarification regarding reports that Iran executed a Jewish community leader in Tehran. Deputy Defense Minister Silvan Shalom, answering questions in the Knesset on Wednesday, said Israel had appealed to the Red Cross, the United Nations and other international organizations to verify what happened, and what has happened to other Jews who have been arrested in Iran. Shalom’s remarks followed reports over the weekend that a 60-year-old activist in the Jewish community in Tehran had been hung, reportedly because of his ties with Israel and his efforts to help Iranian Jews emigrate. According to the reports, the man had disappeared a month ago. Last week, Iranian authorities reportedly informed the family that he had been executed, without explaining why. The man’s brother was quoted saying that he had been killed because of his activism in the Jewish community. According to reports, some 13 Jews have been executed in Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Over 10,000 Jews are estimated to live in Iran.
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