Washington, DC – To strengthen the understanding of the positive historic relations between the Jewish and Iranian peoples, the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) delivered copies of “In the Lion’s Shadow: The Iranian Schindler and his Homeland in the Second World War” to all one-hundred members of the U.S. Senate earlier this month. The books were donated to NIAC with a signed dedication to each Senator by its author, Dr. Fariborz Mokhtari, a former professor at National Defense University in Washington.

 

Mokhtari’s book details the little-known story of Abol-Hossein Sardari, who worked to save members of Jewish families from the Nazis while working as an Iranian diplomat in German-occupied France in the 1940s. By securing visas for them to immigrate to Iran, Sardari managed to save hundreds of lives who might otherwise have been lost in the atrocious holocaust. Celebrated for his noble actions, Sardari is often referred to as “The Iranian Schindler” by the international community. 

 

“His heroic efforts are an example of how, beyond the harsh rhetoric and scary headlines, there has always been a different reality between the Jewish and Iranian peoples,” wrote NIAC President Trita Parsi in a letter to Senators that accompanied the books. “If the diplomatic efforts now underway with Iran succeeds, then that reality can once again come to the forefront.”

 

NIAC takes great pride in its work to advance the interests of the Iranian-American community. Educating decisionmakers in Washington and ensuring they are provided a more complete perspective of our heritage as Iranian Americans is a critical component of this work. Dr. Mokhtari’s important book can help dispel misperceptions and inform lawmakers as they consider the issues that matter most to the Iranian-American community.