Ahmadinejad Has Jewish Roots
Sunday, October 4, 2009 5:56 PM
Iranian President Mahmound Ahmadinejad, one of the world’s most virulent anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers, has Jewish roots, according to a British newspaper.
The London Daily Telegraph bases its astounding claim on a photograph of the Iranian holding up his identity card during elections in March 2008. The card clearly shows his family has Jewish roots, the paper claims.
A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian — a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver.
Special: Get Sarah Palin’s New Book – Incredible FREE Offer -- Click Here Now.
The short note scrawled on the card suggests that his family changed its name to Ahmadinejad when they converted to embrace Islam after his birth, the Telegraph reports.
The Sabourjians traditionally hail from Aradan, Ahmadinejad's birthplace and the name derives from "weaver of the Sabour," the name for the Jewish Tallit shawl in Persia. The name is even on the list of reserved names for Iranian Jews compiled by Iran's Ministry of the Interior.
Experts last night suggested Ahmadinejad's track record for hate-filled attacks on Jews could be an overcompensation to hide his past.
Ali Nourizadeh, of the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies, said: "This aspect of Mr. Ahmadinejad's background explains a lot about him.
"Every family that converts into a different religion takes a new identity by condemning their old faith.
