The politics of in/visibility: The Jews of urban Tehran

Abstract

The presence of Jews in Iran has always had its ups and downs. Naturally, political and social changes have influenced their way of life and the interaction of religious minorities in the urban context and neighbourhoods of Tehran. Politics rules society. The architecture of the religious buildings of religious minorities, on the one hand, influences the urban context and, on the other, is influenced by the sociopolitical conditions and structures that govern society. Cities are places for religious presentations and celebrations, which form part of urban consumer cultures and contribute to constructing urban identities and city images. In Iran, Jews are recognized minorities and scattered throughout the country. This study investigates the relationship between urban spaces and religious buildings, especially synagogues in Tehran, the capital of Iran.