Historical treatment of Jews in Iran would change depending on the ruler. However, it was described by historians that Jews were heavily mistreated and oppressed throughout the Safavid and Qajar Dynasties. For example, in the middle of the 19th century, J. J. Benjamin wrote about the life of Persian Jews: "…they are obliged to live in a separate part of town…; for they are considered as unclean creatures… Under the pretext of their being unclean, they are treated with the greatest severity and should they enter a street, inhabited by Mussulmans, they are pelted by the boys and mobs with stones and dirt… For the same reason, they are prohibited to go out when it rains; for it is said the rain would wash dirt off them, which would sully the feet of the Mussulmans… If a Jew is recognized as such in the streets, he is subjected to the greatest insults.
Throughout Iran's history, Jewish treatment fluctuated based on rulers. Historians documented severe mistreatment and oppression of Jews during the Safavid and Qajar dynasties. For instance, J. J. Benjamin described Persian Jewish life: "…they were required to live in a distinct section of town…; they were considered unclean… Under pretense of their being unclean, they faced harsh treatment and if they ventured into Muslim neighborhoods, children would throw stones at them… They could not leave during rainy days as it was believed rain would wash away dirt from them, which might contaminate Muslim feet… If identified in public, Jews were subjected to severe insults."