Israel objects to Iran146;s new dress code for non-Muslims

Israel has reacted strongly to a news report that Iran has passed a new law that mandates non-Muslims to wear distinct colour bands...

Israel has reacted strongly to a news report that Iran has passed a new law that mandates non-Muslims to wear distinct colour bands to identify them in public saying that it resembled Nazi era policy against Jews.

The purpose of the law as per a report in the Canadian National Post is to prevent Muslims from becoming 8216;8216;unclean8217;8217; by accidentally shaking the hands of non-Muslims in public.

Citing human rights groups the newspaper yesterday reported that the Iranian Parliament had passed a new dress code for religious minorities this week and was awaiting the final approval from its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the new law, Jews will have to wear a yellow band on their exterior in public, while Christians will be required to don red ones, the newspaper claimed.

But, no details regarding the law was available and the only source of information is the report in the Canadian National Post. A member of the Iranian Parliament has also denied that such a law was passed and called the report a 8216;8216;lie8217;8217;.

8216;8216;Whoever makes Jews anywhere wear the yellow star again, will find themselves in a coffin draped in black,8217;8217; Israel8217;s Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said.

8216;8216;The state of Israel was created after the Holocaust in order to ensure it would not be repeated. The yellow star is a bright red warning sign that obligates us to muster the entire world in the face of events there Iran,8217;8217; another minister Paz Pines told the local media.

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The law in the pipeline also requires Muslims to wear 8216;8216;standard Islamic garments8217;8217; designed to remove ethnic and class distinctions. As per the report it was drafted during the presidency of Muhammad Khatami in 2004, but was blocked.

Incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, however, has pressured to remove the blockage, the newspaper added.