AI English Translation, Pages 276-300
Issue No. 2344
Sixteenth Year
Al-Waqai' al-Iraqiya
The Official Gazette of the Republic of Iraq
Published by the Ministry of Information in Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Registered at the Post Office under No. (1) in Baghdad
⟦line⟧
Republic of Iraq
Saturday, 5 Rabi' al-Thani 1394 AH and 27 April 1974 AD
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Resolution No. 436
In the name of the People
Revolutionary Command Council
Based on the provisions of paragraph (a) of Article 42 and paragraph (d) of Article 43 of the Interim Constitution.
The Revolutionary Command Council decided in its session held on 18-4-1974.
To issue the following law:-
No. (52) of 1974
Law
Ratification of the Financial Assistance Agreement granted by the Government of
the Republic of Iraq to the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
Article 1 - The Financial Assistance Agreement | Article 2 - This law shall be published in the Official
granted by the Government of the Republic of Iraq to the Government | Gazette and the Ministers shall be responsible for its implementation.
of the Syrian Arab Republic signed in Damascus | Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr
on 8-3-1974 is hereby ratified. | Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Bureau of Legal Codification
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legal Department)
78
Outgoing Number ⟦illegible⟧
File Number ⟦illegible⟧
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Private Number 500
Number 974/4/22
Date ⟦illegible⟧
Your letter file 851/2/22/1 on 15/1/1974
We present to you the Bureau's decision issued on 17/2/1974 taken on the subject
endorsed by the Minister ⟦line⟧
Muhammad Amin Kammouna
Head of the Bureau of Legal Codification
Copy to /
Office of the Minister.
(The Decision)
(A) The legislation that was applied in Iraq in 1950 regarding Jewish religious marriage
is (The Provisions and Jurisprudential Rules for the Mosaic Community in Iraq) issued by the Minister of
Justice and published in the Official Gazette No. 2668 dated 31/1/1949 -
based on Article 19 of the Law on the Organization of Civil Courts for Christian and
Mosaic Communities No. 22 of 1947.
Article 1 of those provisions states that (The engagement contract is completed if the suitor hands
his fiancée a piece of money or anything of value in the presence of two witnesses and says: "Behold, thou art
sanctified unto me according to the law of Moses and Israel.")
Article 2 thereof states that (The engagement contract must be completed in the presence of two witnesses who are not
related to each other or to the contracting parties).
Article 12 thereof states that (The engagement shall not be dissolved except by divorce).
Article 35 stipulates that marriage is considered to have occurred when he brings her into his house while she is pure
from her menstruation.
(B) As for the formalities to which the aforementioned marriage must be subject in order to have civil effects,
the marital status is legally confirmed by a valid contract and does not depend on registration; rather,
registration is useful for proving the marriage in case of denial. Jewish marriages used to be conducted
by the clergy of the Israelite community, and the marriage contract is proven by a certificate from the community,
and the aforementioned document is considered sufficient evidence to prove the marriage. The marriage shall produce its
civil effects ⟦line⟧
(C) As for the extent of the necessity of registering the Jewish religious marriage in order for it to have
civil effects, the aforementioned registration, as we mentioned earlier, does not affect the existence
or non-existence of the marriage. As for proving the aforementioned marriage contract in Iraq, it shall be
by written evidence when available. If it is not available and the marriage contract was not
registered, then personal evidence shall be heard in that regard, and confession,
testimony, and other evidence provided by the two parties shall be accepted.
(D) Accordingly, the Jewish marriage that was celebrated in 1950 and was not registered
shall produce its civil effects and can be proven by other evidence. End.
78
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Bureau of Legal Codification
Decision No. 47 / 62
File No. 1 / ⟦...⟧ / 74
Date 19 / 3 / 1974
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special No. 500
Date 2 / 4 / 1974
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legal Department)
Your letter file 1 / 22 / 2 / 851 on 15 / 1 / 1974
We send to you the Bureau's decision issued on 17 / 3 / 1974 taken on the subject
endorsed by the Minister.
Muhammad Amin Kammouna
President of the Bureau of Legal Codification
A copy to /
The Minister's Office.
(The Decision)
(A) The legislation that was applied in Iraq in the year 1950 regarding Jewish religious marriage
is (The Jurisprudential Provisions and Rules for the Mosaic Community in Iraq) issued by the Minister of
Justice and published in the Official Gazette No. 2668 on 31 / 1 / 1949 -
based on Article 19 of the Civil Courts System Law for Christian and
Mosaic Communities No. 22 of 1947.
Article 1 of those provisions states that (The engagement contract is completed if the suitor hands
his fiancée a piece of money or anything of value in the presence of two witnesses and says (Behold, you are
sanctified to me according to the law of Moses and Israel))
Article 2 thereof states that (The engagement contract must be completed in the presence of two witnesses who are not
related to each other or to the contracting parties).
Article 12 thereof stated that (The engagement shall not be annulled except by divorce)
Article 35 stipulates that marriage is considered to have occurred once he brings her into his house while she is pure
from her menstruation.
(B) As for the formalities to which the aforementioned marriage must be subject in order for it to have civil effects,
the marital relationship is confirmed legally by a valid contract and does not depend on registration; rather,
registration is useful for proving the marriage in case of denial. Jewish marriages used to be conducted
by the clergy of the Israelite community, and the ⟦marriage⟧ marriage contract is proven by a certificate from the community,
and the aforementioned document is considered sufficient evidence to prove the marriage. The marriage shall produce its
religious effects.
(C) As for the extent of the necessity of registering the Jewish religious marriage in order for it to have civil
effects, the aforementioned registration, as we mentioned earlier, does not affect the existence
or non-existence of the marriage. As for proving the aforementioned marriage contract in Iraq, it shall be
by written evidence when available. If it is not available and the marriage contract was not
registered, then personal evidence shall be heard in that regard, and confession,
testimony, and other evidence provided by the two parties shall be accepted.
(D) Accordingly, the Jewish marriage that was celebrated in 1950 and was not registered
shall produce its civil effects and can be proven by other evidence. End.
78
⟦illegible⟧
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Bureau
Decision No. 47 / 1974
File No. 19 / 1 / 7
Date 19 / 3 / 1974
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legal Department)
Your letter file 1 / 22 / 2 / 852 on 15 / 1 / 1974
We present to you the Bureau's decision issued on 17 / 2 / 1974 and taken on the subject
endorsed by the Minister.
⟦signature⟧
Mohammed Amin Kabouna
President of the Legal Codification Bureau
A copy to /
The Minister's Office.
( The Decision )
(A) The legislation that was applied in Iraq in 1950 regarding Jewish religious marriage
is (The Jurisprudential Provisions and Rules for the Mosaic Community in Iraq) issued by the Minister of
Justice and published in the Official Gazette No. 2668 on 31 / 1 / 1949 -
based on Article 19 of the Law on the Organization of Civil Courts for Christian and
Mosaic Communities No. 32 of 1947.
Article 1 of those provisions states that (The engagement contract is completed if the suitor hands
his fiancée a piece of money or anything of value in the presence of two witnesses and says (Behold, thou art
sanctified unto me according to the law of Moses and Israel))
Article 2 thereof states that (The engagement contract must be completed in the presence of two witnesses who are not
related to each other or to the contracting parties).
Article 12 thereof states that (The engagement shall not be annulled except by divorce)
Article 35 stipulates that marriage is considered to have occurred once he brings her into his house while she is pure
from her menstruation.
(B) As for the formalities to which the aforementioned marriage must be subject in order for it to have civil effects,
the marital relationship is legally confirmed by a valid contract and does not depend on registration; rather,
registration is useful for proving the marriage in case of denial. Jewish marriages used to be conducted
by the clergy of the Israelite community, and the marriage contract is proven by a certificate from the community,
and the aforementioned document is considered sufficient evidence to prove the marriage. The marriage shall produce its
civil effects.
(To be continued)
78
- 2 -
(c) As for the extent of the necessity of registering a Jewish religious marriage in order for it to have
civil effects, the aforementioned registration, as we previously mentioned, does not affect the existence
or non-existence of the marriage. As for proving the aforementioned marriage contract in the ports, it shall be
by written evidence when available. If it is not available and the marriage contract was not
registered, then personal evidence shall be heard in that regard, and admission,
testimony, and other evidence provided by the two parties shall be accepted.
(d) Accordingly, the Jewish marriage that was celebrated in 1950 and was not registered
produces its civil effects and can be proven by other evidence. End.
Ali Al-Tamimi
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Bureau
Decision No. 47 / 1974
Notification No. A / 1 / 7 / 2
Date 19 / 3 / 1974
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Legal Department)
Your letter file 2 / 22 / 2 / 852 on 15 / 1 / 1974.
We present to you the Bureau's decision issued on 17 / 3 / 1974 and taken on the subject
endorsed by the Minister.
Mohammed Amin Kammouna
President of the Legal Codification Bureau
A copy to /
The Minister's Office.
(The Decision)
(A) The legislation that was applied in Iraq in 1950 regarding Jewish religious marriage
is (The Jurisprudential Provisions and Rules for the Mosaic Sect in Iraq) issued by the Minister of
Justice and published in the Official Gazette No. 2668 on 31 / 1 / 1949 -
based on Article 19 of the Law on the Organization of Civil Courts for Christian and
Mosaic Sects No. 32 of 1947.
Article 1 of those provisions states that (the engagement contract is completed if the suitor hands
his fiancée a piece of money or anything of value in the presence of two witnesses and says: "Behold, thou art
sanctified unto me according to the law of Moses and Israel").
Article 2 thereof states that (the engagement contract must be completed in the presence of two witnesses who are not
related to each other or to the contracting parties).
Article 12 thereof states that (the engagement shall not be annulled except by divorce).
Article 35 stipulates that marriage is considered to have occurred when he brings her into his house while she is pure
from her menstruation.
(B) As for the formalities to which the aforementioned marriage must be subject in order for it to have civil effects,
the marital relationship is legally confirmed by a valid contract and does not depend on registration; rather,
registration is useful for proving the marriage in case of denial. Jewish marriages were conducted
by the clergy of the Israelite sect, and the ⟦marriage⟧ contract was proven by a certificate from the sect.
The aforementioned document is considered sufficient evidence to prove the marriage. The marriage shall produce its
civil effects.
(To be continued)
78 /
⟦illegible⟧
- 2 -
78
(c) As for the extent of the necessity of registering a Jewish religious marriage in order for it to have
civil effects, the aforementioned registration, as we previously mentioned, does not affect the existence
or non-existence of the marriage. As for proving the aforementioned marriage contract in the proceedings, it shall be
by written evidence when available. If it is not available and the marriage contract was not
registered, then personal evidence shall be heard in that regard, and admission,
testimony, and other evidence provided by the two parties shall be accepted.
(d) Accordingly, the Jewish marriage that was celebrated in 1955 and was not registered
shall produce its civil effects and can be proven by other evidence. End.
On behalf of Al-Tamimi
77
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Bureau
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews
Number: 890
Date: 15 / 4 / 74
Decision Number :: 197 /
File Number :: 7/1/111
Date :: 1974/4/13
Presidency of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews - Baghdad
Below is a list of names of those who applied for candidacy as original members and alternate members in the
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, for which elections will be held on Tuesday 1974/4/16, arranged according to
alphabetical order. We request its announcement at the election headquarters and other locations designated
in local newspapers, and to notify the members supervising the election with a copy of this announcement and publication
at one o'clock in the afternoon on 1974/4/16 at the election headquarters.
⟦signature⟧
Supervisor
Dr. Fawzi Mohammed Al-Sami
Legal Codifier
Original Members
1- Samuel Shamil Chatal
2- Reuben Naji Samuel Elias
3- Salim Eliyahu Daia
4- Meer Shaul Basri
5- Naji Salman Arib
Alternate Members
1- Edward Salem Siddiq
2- Heskel Shalom Ezra Al-Safi
3- Richard Munir Yusuf Shatoub
4- Zakari Shaul Zakari Cohen
5- Naji Haron Nassim Cohen
A copy to :-
Ministry of Interior - Associations - your letter 334 on 1974/2/24, noting that both Zakari
Shaul Zakari and Dr. Ilya Shaul have requested the inclusion of their names
in the list sent with your above letter as they were not mentioned therein.
Directorate of General Security )
Directorate of General Nationality ) with reference to the Ministry of Interior letter above.
Saadi / 4/13
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Bureau
Presidency of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews
Number: 890
Date: 15 / 4 / 1974
Decision Number: / / 197
File Number: 7 / 1 / 191
Date: 13 / 4 / 1974
Presidency of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews - Baghdad
Below is a list of names of those who applied for nomination as original members and alternate members in the
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, for which elections will be held on Tuesday 16 / 4 / 1974, organized according to
alphabetical order. Please announce it at the election headquarters and other locations that were circulated
in local newspapers, and notify the members supervising the election with a copy of this announcement and to attend
at one o'clock in the afternoon on 16 / 4 / 1974 at the election headquarters.
⟦signature⟧
Supervisor
Dr. Ghazi Abdul Hadi
Legal Codifier
Original Members
1- Heskel Shmeil Fattal
2- Roubin Naji Heskel Elias
3- Salim Eliyahu Shuayba
4- Meer Shaul Basri
5- Naji Salman Arab
Alternate Members
1- Edwar Salem Siddiq
2- Heskel Shalom Ezra Al-Masfi
3- Richard Munir Yusuf Shamtob
4- Zakari Shaul Zakari Cohen
5- Naji Haron Nassim Cohen
A copy to:
Ministry of Interior - Associations - Your letter 334 on 24 / 2 / 1974, noting that both Zakari
Shaul Zakari and Victor Ilya Shaul have requested to include their names
in the list sent with your above letter as they were not mentioned in it.
Directorate of General Security ( )
Directorate of General Nationality ( ) with reference to the Ministry of Interior letter above.
Saadi / 13 / 4
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
No. T/ ⟦61⟧
Date 26 / 3 / 1973
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Subject /
The Honorable Mr. Professor Militant Saddam Hussein
Vice President of the Revolutionary Command Council
The National Council
Baghdad
Mr. Vice President
Allow me to write to you amidst your many preoccupations and the great gains and lavish glories that
you have achieved for the masses of the people and for the Arab nation as a whole under the sponsorship of the Father Leader, the President of the Republic,
and the assistance of your honorable comrades, members of the Revolutionary Command Council. Allow me to write to you to present to your
honorable ears the plea of the children of our small community, which takes pride in this homeland and which has lived in its regions
for hundreds, even thousands of years, and shared with the rest of the people in good times and bad.
Honorable Sir
The Jews of Iraq have lived in this spot and were an inseparable part of the Iraqi people
in their language and literature. Sir Arnold Wilson, the Acting Civil Commissioner in
Iraq at the end of the First Great War, bore witness to them, an unintended testimony, mentioning in his book "Loyalties"
that following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, he summoned the notables of the Mosaic community in
Baghdad and told them that the British government had decided to create a national home for the Jews in Palestine and had issued
a statement to this effect. They said to him - as he recorded in his book: Our homeland is Iraq, and we have no homeland
other than it, and our fate is linked to this country in which we lived and in which our fathers and grandfathers lived.
Then events followed after that for our Iraqi Mosaic community, harsh events in which we had no hand in
creating or directing, nor the ability to prevent or stand before them. They destroyed our entity, toyed with our destinies, and displaced
our brothers and scattered them under every star. Thus we were the victims of the Balfour Declaration, which our fathers did not accept and did not want, nor
did we accept it or want it. Some members of our community were able to resist and stand firm in the face of
the storms and remain in their country, Iraq, despite everything. Then came the blessed July 17 Revolution,
which abolished the exceptional laws that were depriving us, the small remaining group, of the right to work
and exercise our civil rights, and opened the door to travel just like other citizens. Then things returned to
how they were without a legal text, and the funds of Jewish citizens were frozen and their travel was stopped a few months
ago.
So how can an individual live and how can he preserve his dignity if he is deprived of work and prevented from exercising his legitimate civil
rights and not allowed to dispose of his funds and withdraw the amounts deposited in his name in
(To be continued)
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
( 2 )
No. T/ ⟦811⟧
Date 26 / 3 / 197⟦4⟧
Subject /
Banks? And completing power of attorney transactions and others at the Notary Public? And how does an individual live and preserve his dignity
if he is summoned every day to the Nationality Department to prove his retention of his Iraqi nationality, and if he fails to attend
his nationality is revoked and he is deported outside his country? And how does an individual live in his homeland and preserve his dignity if he is pursued
by the security services without a crime he committed or a sin he earned, so they interrogated him from time to time and detained him
for hours, days, or weeks and did not release him except on bail? And I do not mention anything of the terrorism
that occurred in the past year, which claimed the lives of twenty-five or more members of our community
who were killed in their homes - and among them some families were entirely wiped out - then their funds were liquidated and their
properties were seized. A complaint was submitted at that time to the Father, the Struggling Leader, the President of the
Republic, to put an end to the matter with his stance and humanity. And they say after that: Why have the
Iraqi Jews who traveled in recent years not returned? They did not return because the grace period
granted to them to return does not exceed three months, after which they lose their nationality. They did not return
because the situation I explained in the preceding lines does not encourage return and because they are not treated
equally with citizens; nevertheless, some individuals have indeed returned during the permitted three months.
I cannot but take this opportunity to praise the kindness of the beloved Struggling
President of the Republic, and the kindness of Your Excellency and all the members of the esteemed Revolutionary Command Council and their care
for our affairs and their interest in our equality with the rest of the people in rights and duties. And we have
spared no effort in good propaganda for our homeland Iraq and raising its reputation in international circles
and responding to the fabrications woven against it abroad: we wrote on April 28, 1971
to the Secretary-General of the United Nations supporting the good treatment of our community by the esteemed revolutionary government and our equality
with other citizens, as we stated to the many foreign journalists and correspondents who came to
Iraq and asked us about our situation, statements that deny the biased propaganda broadcast in foreign newspapers, which
had the best impact and the best effect, and the Ministry of Information has the certain news.
My Respected Lord
Your party, which calls for freedom, unity, and socialism, is a humane and compassionate party that does not differentiate between
sects, communities, and religions, and aims for the welfare, prosperity, security, and preservation of the dignity of citizens
without discrimination.
I have presented the desperate situation of our community in petitions I submitted to the respected responsible authorities, and I have
no doubt that they do not accept this situation for a small group of peaceful citizens. Therefore, I wrote
these lines to you, my noble struggling lord, seeking your humanitarian assistance to relieve our distress
(To be continued)
⟦illegible⟧
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
Number T/ ⟦810⟧
Date 26 / 3 / 1974
( 2 )
Subject /
and preserving our dignity, improving our conditions, lifting the exceptional restrictions that are strangling us, and allowing us to work
and reopening the door to travel, just like all other citizens.
I hope that you will be so kind, as you have achieved great historical gains for this country in international forums
and achieved prosperity and well-being for the people, and granted autonomy to Kurdistan and gave cultural
and civil rights to all Iraqi communities, I hope that you will be so kind as to look into our matter with an eye of kindness
and provide us with the opportunity for a decent life and participation in the public good, praying to the Almighty Lord to bestow
upon you all the garments of health and happiness and to guide your hands to what brings sovereignty, elevation,
and greatness to the homeland.
And if you would be so kind as to set an appointment for me to meet your Excellency and explain the matter in detail, you would
be adding a favor to your many favors.
Finally, I hope you will accept the highest expressions of reverence and respect.
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Mosaic Community
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
No. T/: 26
Date: / / 197
76
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Subject /
The Respected Mr. Professor Militant Saddam Hussein
Vice President of the Revolutionary Command Council
The National Council
Baghdad
Mr. Vice President
Allow me to write to you amidst your many preoccupations, ⟦immense⟧ troubles, and the lavish glories that
you have achieved for the masses of the people and for the Arab nation as a whole under the sponsorship of the Father Leader, the President of the Republic,
and the assistance of your honorable comrades, members of the Revolutionary Command Council. Allow me to write to you to present to your
honorable ears the plea of the children of our small community, which takes pride in this homeland and which has lived in its regions
for hundreds, even thousands of years, and shared with the rest of the people in prosperity and adversity.
Respected Sir
The Jews of Iraq have lived in this spot and were an inseparable part of the Iraqi people
in their language and literature. Sir Arnold Wilson, the Acting Civil Commissioner in
Iraq at the end of the First Great War, bore witness to them, an unintentional testimony, mentioning in his book "Loyalties"
that following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, he summoned the notables of the Mosaic community in
Baghdad and told them that the British government had decided to create a national home for the Jews in Palestine and had issued
a statement to this effect. They said to him - as he recorded in his book: Our homeland is Iraq, and we have no homeland
other than it, and our fate is linked to this country in which we lived and in which our fathers and grandfathers lived.
Then events followed after that for our Iraqi Mosaic community, harsh events in which we had no hand in
creating or directing, nor the ability to prevent or stand before them. They shattered our entity, toyed with our destinies, and displaced
our brothers and scattered them under every star. Thus we were the victims of the Balfour Declaration, which our fathers did not accept and did not want, nor
did we accept it or want it. Some members of our community were able to resist and stand firm in the face of
the storms and remain in their country, Iraq, despite everything. Then came the blessed July 17 Revolution,
and it abolished the exceptional laws that were surrounding us, we the small remaining group, ⟦whereby⟧ obtaining
and practicing our civil rights, and it opened the door to travel just like other citizens. Then things returned to
what they were without a legal text, and the funds of Jewish citizens were frozen and their travel was stopped a few months
ago.
So how can an individual live and how can he preserve his dignity if he is deprived of work and prevented from practicing his legitimate
civil rights and not allowed to dispose of his funds and withdraw the amounts deposited in his name in
( To be continued )
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
Number T/: ⟦illegible⟧
Date: 26 / 2 / 197⟦illegible⟧
( 2 )
Subject / ⟦line⟧
Banks? And completing power of attorney transactions and others at the Notary Public? And how can an individual live and preserve his dignity
if he is summoned every day to the Nationality Department to prove his retention of Iraqi nationality, and if he fails to attend
his nationality is revoked and he is deported outside his country? And how can an individual live in his homeland and preserve his dignity if
security agencies pursue him without a crime committed or a sin perpetrated, investigating him from time to time and detaining him
for hours, days, or weeks, only releasing him on bail? And I will not mention anything about the terrorism
that occurred in the past year, which claimed the lives of twenty-five or more members of our community
who were killed in their homes - including some families who were entirely wiped out - then their assets were liquidated and their
properties were seized. A complaint was raised at that time to the Father, the Struggling Leader, the President of the
Republic, who put an end to the matter with his compassion and humanity. And they say after that: why didn't
the Iraqi Jews who traveled in recent years return? They did not return because the grace period
granted to them to return does not exceed three months, after which their nationality is stripped. They did not return
because the situation I explained in the preceding lines does not encourage return, and because they are not treated
as citizens; nevertheless, some individuals have indeed returned during the permitted three months.
I cannot fail on this occasion but to praise the kindness of the Respected Struggling Leader, the President
of the Republic, and your kindness and all the members of the esteemed Revolutionary Command Council and your care
for our affairs and your interest in our equality with the rest of the people in rights and duties. And we have
spared no effort in positive propaganda for our homeland Iraq and raising its reputation in international circles
and responding to the fabrications woven against it abroad: we wrote on April 28, 1971
to the Secretary-General of the United Nations supporting the good treatment of our community by the esteemed Revolutionary Government and our equality
with other citizens, as we stated to the many foreign journalists and correspondents who came to
Iraq and asked us about our situation, statements that refute the biased propaganda broadcast in foreign newspapers, which
had the best impact and the finest effect, and the Ministry of Information has the certain news.
Respected Sir
Your party, which calls for freedom, unity, and socialism, is a compassionate humanitarian party that does not differentiate between
sects, communities, and religions, and aims for the welfare, prosperity, security, and preservation of the dignity of citizens
without discrimination.
I have presented the desperate situation of our community in petitions I submitted to the respected responsible authorities, and
I have no doubt that they do not approve of this situation for a small group of righteous citizens. Therefore, I wrote
these lines to you, my noble struggling sir, seeking your assistance to relieve our distress.
( To be continued )
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
Number T/ ⟦...⟧
Date 26 / 3 / 1974
( 2 )
Subject / ⟦line⟧
and preserving our dignity, improving our conditions, lifting the exceptional restrictions that are strangling us, and allowing us to work
and reopening the door to travel, just like all other citizens.
I hope that you will be so kind, as you have achieved great historical gains for this country in international forums
and achieved prosperity and well-being for the people, and granted autonomy to Kurdistan and gave cultural
and civil rights to all Iraqi communities, I hope that you will be so kind as to look into our matter with an eye of compassion
and provide us with the opportunity for a decent life and participation in the public good, praying to the Almighty Lord to bestow
upon you all the garments of health and happiness and to guide your hands to what brings sovereignty, elevation,
and glory to the homeland.
And if you would be so kind as to set an appointment for me to meet your Excellency and explain the matter in detail, you
would be adding a favor to your many favors.
Finally, I hope you will accept my highest expressions of reverence and respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting President of the Mosaic Community
By registered mail dated 2/4/974
Receipt attached
⟦stamp⟧
Volume Number -
Sequence:
508
Department of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones
Form No. (87)
Voucher: Registered
Addressed to: ⟦illegible⟧
Date Stamp
Fils Dinar Value of stamps affixed if it is a parcel
Recorded (Letter) bundle or for insured items
(Parcel) as the case requires insured for an amount of Dinar (in figures) ⟦line⟧
In words ⟦line⟧
Insurance fee ⟦line⟧
Weight in words ⟦line⟧
Receiving Officer
⟦illegible⟧
Issued by the Office of ⟦illegible⟧
75
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Private Number 447
Date 27 / 2 / 974
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Republic of Iraq
(Secret and Urgent)
Number: 3 /
Date: 25 / 3 / 1974
Ministry of Justice
The Committee formed by the decision of the Revolutionary Command
Council No. 643 dated
8 / 8 / 1973
Baghdad Governorate / Local Administration
Further to our letter No. 2 dated 7 / 3 / 1974.
This committee requests to clarify that it sees no objection to your governorate expropriating the two properties sequence
13/97 and 13/98 in Tamin, Al-Rawaf neighborhood, in accordance with the provisions of Expropriation Law No. 54 of 1970 as amended,
provided that the public benefit is realized in the purpose for which you requested their expropriation, and that this committee
reserves its full right to claim fair rent for the period between the seizure by you
until the date of payment of the expropriation compensation to the competent court's fund, while also reserving the right to claim for any
damage that may result from the seizure of them prior to expropriation.
With appreciation.
⟦signature⟧
On behalf of the Special Committee
Abdul Razzaq Mubarak, Judge and Legal
Draftsman
A copy to: -
Ministry of Justice -
Ministry of Finance - Properties { For information please.
Presidency of the Mosaic Community {
⟦signature⟧
3 / 25
Saadi / 3/25
74
Ministry of Justice
Legal Codification Bureau
Election Supervision Committee
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews:
Number: 880
Date: 17 / 2 / 1974
Announcement
Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews
Based on the expiration of the term of the members of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews, and based
on the instructions of the Ministry of Justice issued on 25 / 8 / 1958.
1- Nominations for membership of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews are accepted from persons who
meet the legal conditions according to the above instructions starting from 31 / 3 / 1974 by a request
submitted to the Election Supervisor at the Ministry of Justice until the end of one o'clock
in the afternoon of Thursday, 11 / 4 / 1974.
2- Objections are accepted against the names of candidates for the Administrative Committee elections and against the names of voters
mentioned in the lists displayed at the Presidency of the Community, Meir Synagogue, and Shemtob Synagogue until
one o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, 15 / 4 / 1974.
3- Elections begin at one o'clock on Tuesday, 16 / 4 / 1974
until five o'clock in the afternoon of the mentioned day at Tawfiq Synagogue.
Voters must attend at the time and place designated above, bringing
their identity cards with them.
⟦signature⟧
Election Supervisor
Dr. Ghazi Abdul Hadi
Legal Codifier
Saadi /
72
1 - Work and Earning a Living
⟦line⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
How can a Jew work and earn a living if:
A - He cannot dispose of his movable and immovable property.
B - He cannot sell property belonging to him.
C - He cannot release a mortgage, and if the Frozen Assets Secretariat agrees to release this mortgage, it seizes the mortgaged amount. He cannot dispose
of the mortgage interest unless the Frozen Assets Secretariat agrees.
D - If the Jewish owner benefits from his property by renting it out, and if this property is expropriated or its joint ownership is dissolved,
the amount is seized by the banks, and the owner cannot purchase another property or benefit from the deposited amounts to engage
in other businesses.
E - A Jew cannot appoint an agent or a lawyer on his behalf before the Notaries Public to establish his right, due to his incapacity and to obtain
his rights.
F - Notaries Public do not agree to carry out any transaction for a Jew without obtaining the approval of the Frozen Assets, even lease contracts
for a Jew are not certified.
G - If a Jew has a car, it cannot be sold.
H - If an amount is deposited for a Jew with the Notaries Public, he cannot receive it even if this amount is derived according to
the Landlord and Tenant Law.
I - If a Jew is able to buy, what is the benefit of that if he cannot sell his purchases?
From the above, it is noted that any individual, whoever they may be, is unable to work and earn a living while these restrictions are imposed on them.
These restrictions were imposed by the General Secretariat for Frozen Assets, and thus it has become the supervisor of the assets of
Jews retaining Iraqi citizenship, while the law entrusted it with the supervision of Jews whose Iraqi citizenship was revoked.
The esteemed Revolutionary Command Council noted these restrictions, and due to their illegality and inconsistency with the rights of citizens,
it decided to cancel them under Law No. 86 of 1969, following the blessed July 17 Revolution.
And more than a year ago, the General Secretariat for Frozen Assets began re-establishing these cancelled restrictions
and adding other restrictions through illegal orders and instructions.
2 - Subsistence
⟦line⟧
Since the Jew is unable, according to what we presented above, to work and earn a living, and the necessity of living and staying
alive :-
1 - He began spending his savings or withdrawing from banks what he had saved throughout his life if he had an account in the bank
and even in this case, restrictions were imposed on him, so he is unable to withdraw more than one hundred dinars, and this amount is not enough for him
to rent a house or to support himself, his children, and his family, especially if he was able to spend more than that and
had become accustomed to it due to his social status.
2 - If his money and savings are exhausted and he has no resource, or a very small resource, he began to extend his hand (and he was not accustomed to
begging previously) to the leadership of the Mosaic Community to manage his affairs, and the leadership of the community was and still is performing
this assistance within the limits of possibility, however, the frozen funds began to lay their hands illegally on
the community's properties and endowments, and thus limited its implementation of the donor's cultural and humanitarian conditions, to the point that
the community leadership was forced to close the Frank Iny and Shamash preparatory schools, which had many Muslim
and Christian students.
3 - Travel
⟦line⟧
The Directorate General of Nationality has recently prohibited the travel of Jews outside Iraq, so please study
the situation regarding what we presented above.
As for the non-return of Jews traveling abroad, its reasons are the restrictions explained above, added to that
the revocation of citizenship from the Jew if he does not return within three months of his travel, regardless of the reason.
The Request :- As long as the Iraqi Jew is a citizen and has the rights and responsibilities of citizenship (and no
⟦line⟧
crime or lack of sincerity has been issued by him), please treat him equally with the rest of the citizens in rights and duties.
This is with the knowledge that the Jewish citizens present at the present time in Baghdad and other parts of
Iraq do not exceed 450 or 500 individuals, including men, women, and children, and the number of those who have
properties, funds, or bank accounts is very small.
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
⟦line⟧
Number T/: 116
Date: 10 / ⟦illegible⟧ / 197
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Subject / ⟦line⟧
The Honorable Militant Leader, Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr
President of the Republic and Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
Baghdad
Mr. President,
I offer to your Excellency signs of glorification and veneration, as you are the leader of the people and the guardian of their freedoms, and I present to
your noble ears that our Mosaic community, which is loyal to its homeland and is an inseparable part of this people,
appeals to you regarding the illegal treatments suffered by its members, especially what has occurred in the last two months
regarding the freezing of Jewish citizens' funds in banks and preventing them from withdrawing any amount even for living purposes, as well as
the travel ban outside the country.
The Jewish citizen, detained in his capacity and present in Iraq, is prohibited from disposing of his funds, and all
actions that prevent him from working and earning a living are frozen under the pretext of smuggling his funds abroad. There is no doubt
that smuggling is legally prohibited and no individual loyal to his country would accept it, but Mr. President, I do not think you would accept
taking measures that restrict the freedom of the Jewish citizen to work, earn a living, and dispose of property. Therefore, I hope
that you will kindly look upon our matter with an eye of kindness and care regarding the following matters:-
1 - Allowing members of our community to work and earn a living.
2 - Allowing financial transactions, power of attorney at the notary public, and withdrawals from banks.
3 - Allowing the sale of immovable property and conducting mortgage and pledge transactions in the Real Estate Registration departments.
4 - Allowing the sale of cars in the Traffic Police departments.
5 - Preventing the General Secretariat for Frozen Assets from interfering in the affairs of Jews detained with their Iraqi nationality
and present in Iraq, as well as preventing it from seizing the endowments and properties of the Mosaic community
without legal justification, because the law of the General Secretariat limits its work to managing the funds of Jews whose
Iraqi nationality has been revoked.
6 - Allowing Jewish citizens to travel outside Iraq for medical treatment, similar to other citizens, noting
that the travel ban has included them for two and a half months.
May God protect you, Mr. President, and your honorable comrades, and guide your steps to what is for the good and happiness of the homeland.
Please accept the highest appreciation and respect.
Meir Basri
Acting President of the Mosaic Community
73
⟦illegible⟧
1 - Work and Livelihood
⟦line⟧
How can a Jew work and earn a living if:
A - He cannot dispose of his movable and immovable property.
B - He cannot sell property belonging to him.
C - He cannot release a mortgage, and if the Frozen Assets Secretariat agrees to release this mortgage, it seizes the mortgaged amount. He cannot dispose
of the mortgage interest unless the Frozen Assets Secretariat agrees.
D - If the Jewish owner benefits from his property by renting it out, and if this property is expropriated or its joint ownership is dissolved,
the amount is seized by the banks, and the owner cannot purchase another property or benefit from the deposited amounts to engage
in other work.
E - A Jew cannot appoint an agent or a lawyer on his behalf before notaries public to realize his rights, rendering him helpless and unable to obtain
his rights.
F - Notaries public do not agree to carry out any transaction for a Jew without obtaining the approval of the Frozen Assets, even lease contracts
for a Jew are not certified.
G - If a Jew has a car, it cannot be sold.
H - If an amount is deposited for a Jew with the notaries public, he cannot receive it even if the amount was derived according to
the Landlord and Tenant Law.
I - If a Jew is able to buy, what is the benefit of that if he cannot sell his purchases?
From the above, it is noted that no individual, whoever they may be, is able to work and earn a living while these restrictions are imposed on them.
These restrictions were imposed by the General Secretariat for Frozen Assets, and thus it has become the supervisor of the assets of
Jews retaining Iraqi citizenship, while the law entrusted it with supervising Jews whose Iraqi citizenship was revoked.
The esteemed Revolutionary Command Council noted these restrictions, and due to their illegality and inconsistency with the rights of citizens,
it decided to cancel them under Law No. 86 of 1961 after the blessed July 17 Revolution.
And more than a year ago, the General Secretariat for Frozen Assets began re-establishing these tyrannical restrictions
and adding other restrictions through illegal orders and instructions.
2 - Subsistence
⟦line⟧
Since the Jew is unable, according to what we presented above, to work and earn a living, and given the necessity of living and staying
alive :-
1 - He began spending his savings or withdrawing from banks what he had saved throughout his life if he had a bank account.
Even in this case, restrictions were imposed on him, so he is unable to withdraw more than one hundred dinars, and this amount is not enough for him
to rent a house or to support himself, his children, and his family, especially if he was able to spend more than that and
had become accustomed to it due to his social status.
2 - If his money and savings are exhausted and he has no resource, or a very small resource, he began to extend his hand (and he was not accustomed to
begging previously) to the presidency of the Mosaic Community to manage his affairs. The presidency of the community was and still is
providing this assistance within the limits of possibility, but the frozen funds began to weaken it illegally over
the community's properties and endowments. Thus, its ability to apply the conditions of cultural and humanitarian ties was limited, to the point that
the community presidency was forced to close the Frank Iny and Shamash preparatory schools, which had many Muslim
and Christian students.
3 - Travel
⟦line⟧
The Directorate General of Nationality has recently prohibited the travel of Jews outside Iraq. Please study
the situation in light of what we presented above.
As for the non-return of Jews traveling abroad, the reasons are the restrictions explained above, in addition to
the revocation of citizenship from the Jew if he does not return within three months of his travel, regardless of the reason.
The Request: As long as the Iraqi Jew is a citizen and has the rights and responsibilities of citizenship (and no
⟦line⟧
crime or lack of sincerity has been issued by him), please treat him equally with other citizens in rights and duties.
This is with the knowledge that the Jewish citizens present at the current time in Baghdad and other parts of
Iraq do not exceed 450 or 500 individuals, including men, women, and children, and the number of those who have
properties, funds, or bank accounts is very small.
⟦...⟧
74
Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Justice
Bureau of Legal Codification
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
Special Number 298
Date 10 / 3 / 1974
Decision Number ::
File Number :: 7/1/1911
Date :: 5 / 3 / 1974
Baghdad Governorate (Local Administration - Properties)
Your letter 6366 on 27/2/1974.
The committee's formations have not been completed until the present time, so please
seek clarification regarding that from the Real Estate Registration Directorate.
With appreciation
Muhammad Amin Kammouna
President of the Bureau of Legal Codification
A copy of it to /
Ministry of Finance (First Lands)
Real Estate Registration Directorate in Karrada Al-Sharqiya
Presidency of the Mosaic Community
With reference to
the letter mentioned
above.
⟦signature⟧
S. Al-Tamimi
Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Baghdad
Telephone No. 83531 President
Number: T / 1210 / 74
Date: 2 / 2 / 1974
⟦illegible⟧
71
Urgent
⟦line⟧
Subject /
The Honorable Governor of Baghdad
Local Administration
Greetings and respect
The tenant of garage number doors 2/3/2, Mr. Ohannes Yakub Sarkisyan, has informed us that the
Bataween Police Sub-station requested him to immediately evacuate the garage (which is a car repair shop) based on the request of your governorate
in its letter numbered 3116 and dated 21 / 1 / 1974. Upon reviewing your governorate's office, we learned that the Local Administration
requested the expropriation of the two plots sequence 12/67 and 8 / 13, Bataween neighborhood, to be used as a sub-station for the
Bataween police.
We state to you that the two mentioned plots are an endowment (Waqf) of the Jewish community's endowments according to the endowment deed
attached herewith, numbered 101 / 148 Sh and dated 14 / 7 / 1941.
And that this endowment is currently managed by the Special Committee formed by the decision of the Revolutionary Command
Council numbered 643 and published in the Iraqi Gazette issue 2267 dated 1 / 8 / 1973, and its current headquarters
is in the Ministry of Justice. Please notify it regarding the expropriation or replacement. Since the tenant Ohannes Yakub
Sarkisyan is the owner of a car repair shop, please grant him a suitable period in case your governorate insists
on the expropriation so that he can vacate the shop and remove the machinery and facilities belonging to him.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦signature⟧
Meer Basri
Acting Head of the Community
A copy to: -
Ministry of Justice (Presidency of the Legal Codification Bureau)
The Special Committee for the Management of the Endowments of Munir Menahem Daniel - Ministry of Justice
Bataween Police Sub-station
The tenant for follow-up