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In 1839, Jews living in Mashhad, Iran were forced to convert to Islam. They chose life: outwardly they converted to Islam, but secretly continued to practice their Judaism. That situation lasted for about 120 years. Every Friday, the converts would go to the mosque, but in the evening they would welcome the Shabbat (Sabbath). The women, who as Muslims were required to fully cover their bodies, would carry Torah scrolls, phylacteries and prayer shawls beneath their clothes and bring them to secret synagogues set up in private homes.
The members of the community lived in a ghetto called Jadid al-Islam (New Muslims), married only within the community and betrothed their children to one another as soon as they were born. The Jews of Mashhad were allowed to revert to Judaism only in the 20th century.
