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.
Historical treatment of Jews in Iran varied based on the ruler. Historians reported that Jews were severely mistreated and oppressed during the Safavid and Qajar Dynasties. For instance, J. J. Benjamin documented Persian Jewish life: "…they are required to reside in a distinct section of town…; they are deemed unclean beings… Under pretense of their being unclean, they are subjected to extreme harshness and if they venture into a street inhabited by Muslims, children and crowds pelt them with stones and dirt… For the same reason, they are forbidden to go out during rainy days; it is said that rain would wash away dirt from them, which could contaminate Muslim feet… If identified as Jews in public, they face severe insults."