Chronology of the exodus
of יהודים YEHUDIM
from the Republic of Iraq.

Most departures occurred under the Kingdom of Iraq, before the republic. The hub uses the most recent formal government name; each event retains its own historical setting. Dates below distinguish events, publications and testimony. Census findings provide context within the nationality-law articles; their enumeration dates are not treated as publication dates.¹

1936-09Precision: month · Basis: not-assessed

reported event month

1936-09; reported event month: An unexploded bomb was found in a בית כנסת BEIT KʾNESET.

1936-10-08Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

newspaper publication

1936-10-08; newspaper publication: ששון כדורי SASSON KHADHURI asserted belonging in the Kingdom of Iraq and denied ties to ציונות ẒIYONUT.

1941-06-01Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1941-06-01

1941-06-01: The فرهود FARHUD began during שבועות ŜAVUʾOT.

1941-07-08Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1941-07-08

1941-07-08: The Kingdom of Iraq documented Nazi propaganda as well as security forces' participation in the فرهود FARHUD.

1941-07-20Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1941-07-20

1941-07-20: Eyewitness testimony by משה יתח MOŜE YITAḤ: recovery and plans to leave after the فرهود FARHUD.

1948-09-23Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1948-09-23

1948-09-23: Execution of שפיק עדס SHAFIQ ADES.

1948-10Precision: month · Basis: not-assessed

1948-10

1948-10: The Kingdom of Iraq restricted employment and livelihoods of יהודים YEHUDIM.

1949-12Precision: month · Basis: not-assessed

1949-12

1949-12: A later account recalled escape from the Kingdom of Iraq after refusal of an exit visa.

1949-12-07Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1949-12-07

1949-12-07: A diplomatic assessment disputed claims of general persecution in the Kingdom of Iraq.

1950-03-04Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1950-03-04

1950-03-04: The Kingdom of Iraq authorized loss of nationality for יהודים YEHUDIM leaving permanently.

1950-03-05Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

newspaper publication

1950-03-05; newspaper publication: Jew-hating antizionist reportage on the Kingdom of Iraq debating denaturalization of יהודים YEHUDIM.

1950-04-12Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

newspaper publication

1950-04-12; newspaper publication: Jew-hating reportage depicted young יהודים YEHUDIM leaving the Kingdom of Iraq as a security threat.

1950-05-19Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1950-05-19

1950-05-19: מבצע עזרא ונחמיה MIVẒA EZRA VEʾNEḤEMYAH brought יהודים YEHUDIM to ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL from the Kingdom of Iraq.

1950-10-03Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

diplomatic report cited by scholarship

1950-10-03; diplomatic report cited by scholarship: A diplomatic report recorded a proposal to remove יהודים YEHUDIM awaiting departure.

1951-01-06Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

newspaper publication cited by scholarship

1951-01-06; newspaper publication cited by scholarship: Reportage linked departure to restrictions on the freedom and livelihoods of יהודים YEHUDIM.

1951-01-14Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

attack, reported evening

1951-01-14; attack, reported evening: A bomb struck a בית כנסת BEIT KʾNESET used by people awaiting departure.

1951-03Precision: month · Basis: not-assessed

1951-03

1951-03: Arrival of ששון סומך SASSON SOMEḪ in ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL.

1951-03-10Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1951-03-10

1951-03-10: The Kingdom of Iraq froze assets of יהודים YEHUDIM who had registered to leave.

1951-03-22Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

1951-03-22; publication and entry into force: The Kingdom of Iraq extended property restrictions to more יהודים YEHUDIM who had left the country.

1951-05-07Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1951-05-07

1951-05-07: Diplomats discussed frozen assets and a threatened departure deadline for יהודים YEHUDIM.

1951-07-06Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1951-07-06

1951-07-06: Diplomatic report: mass exodus of יהודים YEHUDIM from the Kingdom of Iraq.

1960-01-20Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

gazette publication and entry into force

1960-01-20; gazette publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq repealed a nationality penalty for יהודים YEHUDIM traveling abroad.

1963-06-25Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

gazette publication cited in legal reproduction

1963-06-25; gazette publication cited in legal reproduction: The Republic of Iraq renewed nationality and property restrictions on יהודים YEHUDIM.

1963-12-28Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

gazette publication cited in legal reproduction

1963-12-28; gazette publication cited in legal reproduction: The Republic of Iraq required a special citizenship review for יהודים YEHUDIM.

1964-07-18Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

1964-07-18; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq regulated travel abroad by יהודים YEHUDIM.

1964-09-07Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

gazette publication cited in legal reproduction

1964-09-07; gazette publication cited in legal reproduction: The Republic of Iraq restricted property transactions by specified יהודים YEHUDIM.

5727 to 5728 AMPrecision: source-label · Basis: not-assessed

after June 1967

5727 to 5728 AM; after June 1967: A later testimony recalled exclusion from university and refusal of a passport.

1967-07-11Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

1967-07-11; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq tightened control of property transfers by יהודים YEHUDIM.

1967-09-25Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

1967-09-25; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq extended the nationality-linked property regime.

1969-01-27Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1969-01-27

1969-01-27: The Republic of Iraq publicly executed fourteen people, including nine יהודים YEHUDIM.

1969-02-14Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1969-02-14

1969-02-14: An intelligence report described restrictions and a remnant of about 3,000 יהודים YEHUDIM.

1969-09-15Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

reported gazette publication

1969-09-15; reported gazette publication: Penal Code Article 201 criminalized promotion of Zionist principles, organizational affiliation, assistance and work toward Zionist aims. The statute formed part of the legal environment confronting the remaining community; it does not by itself prove that every departure resulted from this article.

1970-06-14Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1970-06-14

1970-06-14: Communal representatives managed a dissolved burial society’s records and assets.

1971-04-17Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1971-04-17

1971-04-17: A family left the Republic of Iraq after years of blocked opportunities.

5733 TiŝreiPrecision: source-label · Basis: not-assessed

day unspecified

5733 Tiŝrei; day unspecified: A daughter recalled her father’s disappearance.

1976-05-11Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1976-05-11

1976-05-11: A diplomatic report linked continued residence to protecting family property.

1977-08-02Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1977-08-02

1977-08-02: A communal letter arranged a תורה TORA scroll transfer and praised the government.

1998-10-04Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

1998-10-04

1998-10-04: A gunman killed two יהודים YEHUDIM and two Muslims.

2003-10-19Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

report publication

2003-10-19; report publication: Reportage described the remaining community in Baghdad.

2006-03-07Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

2006-03-07; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq retained exclusions from nationality restoration.

2011-10-12Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

newspaper publication, 14 Tiŝrei 5772

2011-10-12; newspaper publication, 14 Tiŝrei 5772: Newspaper report titled: The youngest of Baghdad’s seven remaining Jews dreams of marriage.

2016-02-16Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication of reflection

2016-02-16; publication of reflection: A later reflection described renewed contact with a mother tongue.

2021-03-28Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

news publication

2021-03-28; news publication: Reportage counted four remaining יהודים YEHUDIM under a stated definition.

2022-05-26Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

2022-05-26

2022-05-26: The Republic of Iraq passed an antizionist law carrying the death penalty for specified offenses.

2022-06-20Precision: day · Basis: not-assessed

publication and entry into force

2022-06-20; publication and entry into force: An antizionist law carrying the death penalty took effect in the Republic of Iraq.

Footnotes

Iraqi Jewish Archive, Shavuot 1941: The Farhud,; FRUS 1958–1960, document 109, ↩