Jews vote and say face no problems

Tehran: They live in an Islamic state whose president has questioned the Holocaust and is regularly predicting the demise of Israel.

Iran's ancient Jewish community has declined by two-thirds since the 1979 Islamic revolution and like many people in the country they can be reluctant to publicly criticise its ruling establishment.

Those Iranian Jews who spoke to Reuters said they faced no problems in the Shiite country for their religion. "We have been in this country for thousands of years and we will stay," said businessman Edmund Moalemi, 32, after casting his ballot at a synagogue in the capital Tehran.

Judaism is one of three recognised minority religions in Iran. The community has a member in the 290-seat legislature and its own schools. Four other seats are reserved for Iran's Christians and Zoroastrians, a pre-Islamic religion.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been condemned internationally for describing the Holocaust as a "myth" and calling for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map".

Voters at the synagogue were reluctant to comment when asked about the president's statements. "That's his personal opinion," said Rahmatollah Shamsian, a 64-year-old textile shop owner, after voting for one of two Jewish candidates.