The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest mainstream Orthodox Jewish synagogue organization, condemned the plan by the Taliban of Afghanistan to require non-Moslems to wear identifying clothing and yellow badges. This shameful action can only remind the world of the despicable Nazi practice of designating groups with identifying badges and Jews with yellow stars.

“We condemn this despicable act by the Taliban, a regime characterized by acts of murder and the violation of the civil and religious rights of racial groups, most recently the destruction of centuries-old religious shrines and now the singling out of minorities. These shameful acts must be denounced and condemned by the international community,” said Betty Ehrenberg, Director of International and Communal Affairs. “This kind of outrage by the Taliban must be a warning to all of us to heed the lessons of the past and learn from our history, that singling out and stigmatizing minorities can lead to the most unthinkable tragedies, as it has in the past. We call on the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and other world bodies to protest this gross violation of human and religious rights and to take firm action against the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan,” said Ms. Ehrenberg.