Those stinkin’ badges

It was a story that spread on the Web like wildfire: Iran’s parliament had passed a law that would require non-Muslims in Iran to wear distinguishing clothing, including yellow cloth strips or badges for Jews. Jewish groups, like the Simon Wiesenthal Center, “confirmed” the story and, likening the decision to the Nuremberg Laws, issued demands for global action. Newspapers fired up indignant editorials.

The only problem: The story turns out not to have been true — or, at the very least, speculative. Canada’s National Post, which reported the story, retracted it. Sam Kermanian, of the United States-based Iranian-American Jewish Federation, told the newspaper that members of the Jewish community in Iran denied any such measure was in place. A Tehran-born Israeli expert on Iran tells the newspaper that he was “unable to find any evidence that such a law had been passed.” (For his part, columnist Amir Taheri, the Iranian expat who first reported the story, says the badges idea could still be implemented by a committee examining proper dress.)

It is tempting to believe the worst of Iran, a country led by a Holocaust denier who has called for Israel’s destruction. But this episode should give pause to those who are quick to fire off press releases at the blink of a Web page. Iran’s defenders have already used the episode as proof of a Western disinformation ploy intended to build a case for the invasion of Iran.

An Iranian bomb is a serious threat. And the case, if not the means, for containing Iran is airtight. If Jewish groups hope to influence the debate over how that threat is addressed (if they can influence it at all), then its leadership must make doubly sure to get the facts right. In cyberspace, everyone can hear you scream.

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