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
newspaper publication
1936-10-08; newspaper publication: ששון כדורי SASSON KHADHURI asserted belonging in the Kingdom of Iraq and denied ties to ציונות ẒIYONUT.
1941-06-01
1941-06-01: The فرهود FARHUD began during שבועות ŜAVUʾOT.
1941-07-08
1941-07-08: The Kingdom of Iraq documented Nazi propaganda as well as security forces' participation in the فرهود FARHUD.
1941-07-20
1941-07-20: Eyewitness testimony by משה יתח MOŜE YITAḤ: recovery and plans to leave after the فرهود FARHUD.
1948-09-23
1948-09-23: Execution of שפיק עדס SHAFIQ ADES.
1948-10
1948-10: The Kingdom of Iraq restricted employment and livelihoods of יהודים YEHUDIM.
1949-12
1949-12: A later account recalled escape from the Kingdom of Iraq after refusal of an exit visa.
1949-12-07
1949-12-07: A diplomatic assessment disputed claims of general persecution in the Kingdom of Iraq.
1950-03-04
1950-03-04: The Kingdom of Iraq authorized loss of nationality for יהודים YEHUDIM leaving permanently.
newspaper publication
1950-03-05; newspaper publication: Jew-hating antizionist reportage on the Kingdom of Iraq debating denaturalization of יהודים YEHUDIM.
newspaper publication
1950-04-12; newspaper publication: Jew-hating reportage depicted young יהודים YEHUDIM leaving the Kingdom of Iraq as a security threat.
1950-05-19
1950-05-19: מבצע עזרא ונחמיה MIVẒA EZRA VEʾNEḤEMYAH brought יהודים YEHUDIM to ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL from the Kingdom of Iraq.
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.
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.
attack, reported evening
1951-01-14; attack, reported evening: A bomb struck a בית כנסת BEIT KʾNESET used by people awaiting departure.
1951-03
1951-03: Arrival of ששון סומך SASSON SOMEḪ in ארץ ישראל EREẒ YISRAʾEL.
1951-03-10
1951-03-10: The Kingdom of Iraq froze assets of יהודים YEHUDIM who had registered to leave.
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.
1951-05-07
1951-05-07: Diplomats discussed frozen assets and a threatened departure deadline for יהודים YEHUDIM.
1951-07-06
1951-07-06: Diplomatic report: mass exodus of יהודים YEHUDIM from the Kingdom of Iraq.
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.
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.
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.
publication and entry into force
1964-07-18; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq regulated travel abroad by יהודים YEHUDIM.
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.
after June 1967
5727 to 5728 AM; after June 1967: A later testimony recalled exclusion from university and refusal of a passport.
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.
publication and entry into force
1967-09-25; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq extended the nationality-linked property regime.
1969-01-27
1969-01-27: The Republic of Iraq publicly executed fourteen people, including nine יהודים YEHUDIM.
1969-02-14
1969-02-14: An intelligence report described restrictions and a remnant of about 3,000 יהודים YEHUDIM.
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.
1970-06-14
1970-06-14: Communal representatives managed a dissolved burial society’s records and assets.
1971-04-17
1971-04-17: A family left the Republic of Iraq after years of blocked opportunities.
day unspecified
5733 Tiŝrei; day unspecified: A daughter recalled her father’s disappearance.
1976-05-11
1976-05-11: A diplomatic report linked continued residence to protecting family property.
1977-08-02
1977-08-02: A communal letter arranged a תורה TORA scroll transfer and praised the government.
1998-10-04
1998-10-04: A gunman killed two יהודים YEHUDIM and two Muslims.
report publication
2003-10-19; report publication: Reportage described the remaining community in Baghdad.
publication and entry into force
2006-03-07; publication and entry into force: The Republic of Iraq retained exclusions from nationality restoration.
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.
publication of reflection
2016-02-16; publication of reflection: A later reflection described renewed contact with a mother tongue.
news publication
2021-03-28; news publication: Reportage counted four remaining יהודים YEHUDIM under a stated definition.
2022-05-26
2022-05-26: The Republic of Iraq passed an antizionist law carrying the death penalty for specified offenses.
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, ↩
reported event month
newspaper publication
1941-06-01
1941-07-08
1941-07-20
1948-09-23
1948-10
1949-12
1949-12-07
1950-03-04
newspaper publication
newspaper publication
1950-05-19
diplomatic report cited by scholarship
newspaper publication cited by scholarship
attack, reported evening
1951-03
1951-03-10
publication and entry into force
1951-05-07
1951-07-06
gazette publication and entry into force
gazette publication cited in legal reproduction
gazette publication cited in legal reproduction
publication and entry into force
gazette publication cited in legal reproduction
after June 1967
publication and entry into force
publication and entry into force
1969-01-27
1969-02-14
reported gazette publication
1970-06-14
1971-04-17
day unspecified
1976-05-11
1977-08-02
1998-10-04
report publication
publication and entry into force
newspaper publication, 14 Tiŝrei 5772
publication of reflection
news publication
2022-05-26
publication and entry into force