Dubai-based Rabbi has Tefillin Straps Cut by Jordanian Airport security; SWC Calls on King Abdullah, Faith Leaders to Act

Earlier this week, a rabbi from the United Arab Emirates, traveling through Jordan’s International Airport, was stopped by Jordaniansecurity and his tefillin were cut with scissors.

Over the last few months, the Simon Wiesenthal Center has met with top Jordanian diplomats to officially protest similar incidentsat land crossings from Israel into Jordan. Nothing has been achieved to date.

"Those who destroyed Rabbi’s tefillin at the airport knew exactly what tefillin is," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Simon WiesenthalCenter Associate Dean and Global Social Action Director. “King Abdullah must put an end to this travesty. Israel, US and faith leaders must condemn these desecrations. If there is no change Jewswill reconsider travel to the Kingdom; all this when the Abraham Accords spread true peace,” Cooper concluded.

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The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations,UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).