Haaretz:

Executed by firing squad as a "Zionist spy" in 1979, Jewish businessman Habib Elghanian was the builder of Tehran's iconic Plasco building that went up in flames on Thursday.

Elghanian was the first Jew or leading businessman to be executed in post-Islamic revolution era. His demise at the age of 67 is seen as playing a key role in spurring the subsequent departure of more than three quarters of Iran's Jews.

The execution took place in May 1979 though Elghanian had been persecuted from before the revolution, under the Shah's rule, and arrested in 1975.

Elghanian was possibly singled out for his leadership role in Iran's Jewish community. He also invested in Israel and put up the first skyscraper in Ramat Gan's Diamond Exchange district along with his brothers...

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