AI en Translation, Pages 126-150
Page 126
Baghdad on April 27, 1950
⟦illegible⟧
(74)
⟦illegible⟧
To the Presidency of the Respected Israelite Community
Baghdad
Greetings and respect,
Personal reasons related to my regular business have arisen
which call me to submit this resignation from membership in the Nationality Renunciation Committee
effective from the end of the current month. Since I believe that
my withdrawal will not affect the flow of these operations now that they have been organized
and are proceeding in a normal manner, I have come requesting you to kindly
accept my resignation. Please accept my utmost thanks
and respect.
⟦illegible⟧
Salim Lawi
To be placed before the Central Committee
for Nationality Renunciation Affairs
28 / 4
⟦illegible⟧
For filing
Nationality Renunciation
Page 127
501
Incoming Private Telegram
BAGHDAD
11 JUN 50
Baghdad Post
⟦Kingdom of Iraq Coat of Arms⟧
Telegram Number: 171
Time of registration:
Arrived at hour: 17
Minute: 5
From: ⟦illegible⟧
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 57
Administrative instructions: Urgent
Date: 11
Issuing office: Basra
To His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
The first batch consisting of 42 families has completed
their formalities and is ready for travel. The director of the
travel company has requested their deportation to Baghdad. These people
have become in a very bad condition as they cannot afford to buy food
for a single day and have no housing. Please inform us
Page 128
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number ⟦...⟧
Telegram Type ⟦...⟧
Registration Time ⟦...⟧
Department Stamp
Arrived at hour ⟦line⟧ minute ⟦line⟧
Received by ⟦line⟧
Word count ⟦line⟧ Administrative instructions ⟦line⟧ Date ⟦line⟧ Issuing department ⟦line⟧
God
Will you send them to Baghdad tomorrow? Please kindly send the answer
quickly
Head of the Community
Page 129
⟦77⟧
⟦27⟧
Head of the Jewish Community
Basra
It has been finally decided to complete the deportation transactions from Basra. Please contact your Police Director.
There is no need to deport them to Baghdad.
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Head of the Community ⟦line⟧
Heskel Dawood Shemtob
Acting Head of the Community - Baghdad
Page 130
(2)
77877
BAGHDAD
13 JUN 50
Post and Telegraph
Incoming Internal Telegram
Telegram Type: M
Registration Time: 11:30
Arrived at: 12:30 minutes
From: S
Received by: ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 20 Administrative Instructions
Date: 12/6
Issuing Office: Al-Mansour
To: Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad
Reference to your reply telegram <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> dated
12 / 6 / 1950 we consulted the District Police Director and he contacted the Director
of Travel Police in Baghdad by telephone where he ordered
Page 131
B. H. 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number:
Telegram Type:
Registration Time:
Department Stamp: A S
Arrived at hour:
Minute:
From:
Received by:
Word count:
Administrative Instructions:
Date:
Issuing Department:
To
Director of Travel Police to send them to Baghdad tonight
Next
Head of the Community
Page 132
256
950
Incoming Internal Telegram
(2)
⟦Emblem of the Kingdom of Iraq⟧
Number:
Telegram Type: 3
Registration Time: 16:10
14. 10. 50
Arrived at 16:20 minutes
From Basra P.O. Box 66 received by K
Word Count: 21 Administrative Instructions Urgent
Date: 14
Issuing Office: Basra
To the Presidency of the Jewish Community Baghdad
Based on the insistence of the Director of Travel Police in Baghdad
The District Police Director requested the dispatch of the first batch
tonight and fifty-two people will arrive to you by tomorrow's train
please facilitate their travel / Head of the Community
Page 133
His Eminence, the Head of the Mosaic Community in Mosul, Respected
Presented to your Excellency
I am Sabiha Beh Ezra Mazyouma, a resident of the Jewish quarter in Mosul. I have come forward
to renounce my citizenship along with my wife in Mosul, but the registration committee refused to process the renunciation
of my wife's citizenship with me on the pretext that she is from the people of Basra and registered in the Basra census records. Accordingly,
I submitted the petition, a copy of which you will find attached, to His Excellency the Governor of Mosul. He did not respond
to this at all. Since I believe that it is not a requirement for those who wish to renounce their citizenship to
register in their own town, but rather in any town whatsoever, and that this delay is an unjustified obstruction, therefore
I have come to you with this petition of mine, pleading for you to take whatever action you see fit, and the matter is yours, sir.
The Petitioner
⟦illegible⟧
Sabiha Beh Ezra
4/6/1950
Copy to: His Eminence, the Head of the Mosaic Community in Baghdad
For your kind review and to inform you of the result.
Referred to the Secretariat
Mr. Anwar
We received this letter by registered mail
from Mosul. ⟦Can⟧ the petitioner be assisted?
The Lawyer
⟦illegible⟧
Salim Abbad
8/6/950
For filing
Page 134
(True Copy)
6/4/1950
His Excellency the Governor of Mosul Province, Respected.
Presented to your Excellency.
I, Siddiq bin Ezra, a resident of the Jewish quarter in Mosul, have submitted this petition of mine, hoping
for your kindness and order to process the transaction for the renunciation of the citizenship of my wife, who is from Basra, and whom
I married according to the documents attached herewith to my petition, along with the transaction for the renunciation of my citizenship immediately.
With much gratitude.
The Petitioner
Siddiq bin Ezra
⟦signature⟧
Original
To the Police Director
(Signature)
On behalf of the Governor
6/4
To the Assistant of the Special Division.
(Signature)
On behalf of the Police Director
6/4
To the Director of Mosul Police.
The petitioner's wife is from Basra and is registered there, and the order to include her
with her husband in the list of renunciation of citizenship requires a transfer of her record from Basra to her husband's home, so please
refer the petition to the Civil Status Department to carry that out.
(Signature)
Assistant of the Division
To the Civil Status Clerk of Mosul.
To take the necessary action, please.
(Signature)
On behalf of the Police Director
6/4
Page 135
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 189
Date: 26 / 5 / 1950
Subject: - Request for information
To:
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the Respected
Greetings
Further to our letter No. 184 dated 18 / 5 / 1950.
Please inform us of the result of our aforementioned letter regarding the arrangements you have made
and the conditions that were agreed upon regarding the travel of persons who renounced their citizenship.
Please accept our highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
Page 136
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 249
Date: 13 / 6 / 1950
Subject: - Request for information
To:
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community - Baghdad
Greetings
Reference to your reply telegram sent to us on 12 / 6 / 1950, please kindly
inform us about the following matters. ⟦line⟧
1 - Since it has been decided to conduct the deportation procedures in Basra - as you kindly pointed out in
the telegram - we hope to be enlightened on what the community is taking from its side regarding procedures in this
regard.
2 - , whereas in Baghdad the "Sefer Torah" has been transferred in every plane, and as we are desiring
such a matter, we hope to be informed of what procedures you have taken specifically regarding that.
3 - Please inform us about the certificates and documents that the traveler carries and who certifies them
and what items are allowed to be carried such as clothes, gold, and others with the traveler.
4 - The date for the start of travel from Basra is still unknown to us, therefore we hope you will inform us about it.
With respect to Your Excellency.
⟦Yaqub⟧ ⟦...⟧
President of the Community
Page 137
Presidency of the Jewish Community
Basra
Number: 26
Date: 14 / 6 / 1950
Subject: -
To:
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad, the respected
Greetings
Mr. Aboudi Ezra Khadouri, member of the Lay Council, will contact your Excellency
regarding facilitating matters related to deportation, please rely on him and facilitate his mission.
Please accept the highest respect.
⟦illegible⟧
President of the Community
⟦illegible⟧
Page 138
Presidency
The Israelite Community - Basra
Number: 224
Date: 18 / 6 / 1950
(84)
His Excellency the President of the Israelite Community in Baghdad, the Respected
Greetings
The Ministry of Interior sent a ministerial order dated 18 / 6 / 1950 stipulating the assignment of all powers related
to revocation and deportation (i.e., the powers stipulated in the Nationality Revocation Law No. 1 of 1950) to
the Director of Port Police, whereas they were previously assigned to the Director of District Police.
We wish to inform you that the revocation operations in our city have proceeded well from their inception until now, and
we have received good and fair treatment from the Director of District Police at all times, in addition to the fact that transferring all powers
to the Director of Port Police is likely to obstruct the revocation operations given the complexity and volume of transactions and their requirement
for a large number of commissioners, which is available at the District Police Directorate.
Therefore, we have come to Your Excellency hoping to present this matter to the competent authorities to keep this authority entrusted
to His Excellency the Director of District Police as it was previously.
With respect to Your Excellency.
⟦signature⟧
President of the Community
For filing or presentation to the head of
Nationality Revocation
⟦...⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 139
Incoming Internal Telegram
⟦852⟧ 4 ⟦Lh⟧
Number:
Telegram Type:
Time of Registration: 1720
Department Stamp
BAGHDAD
26 JUN 50
TELS.
CALENDAR
Arrived at 1747 hours
From ⟦Amman⟧ Received by ⟦CV⟧
Word Count: 17
Administrative Instructions:
Date: 26
Issuing Office: Amman
To Anwar, Head of the Israelite Community
Have mercy on us with a reply <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> by telegram regarding the travel
Our condition has become very bad, reply to Kurji Gabriel Tarraf
Kurji
For the passport file
Page 140
(86)
Number 9
Incoming Internal Telegram
Number 40
Telegram Type -
Time of registration 9/10
30 MAR 50
TELEGS
BAGHDAD
Arrived at 9:20 minutes
Received by ⟦illegible⟧
Word count: 15
Administrative instructions: -
Date: 30
Issuing office: Sulaymaniyah
To the Acting Head of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
On Sunday the Sulaymaniyah convoy arrives with 75 forms
Rabbi Moshe Mordechai
Page 141
Barq 2
Inland Telegram "A"
Outgoing Inland Telegram
Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration
Number:
Telegram Type:
Sent to:
Time:
Hour:
Minute:
Issuing Office:
Signature of Sending Official:
Date:
Administrative Operations ::
Word Count:
Fee:
Nothing to be written by sender above this line.
Nothing to be written by sender above this line.
To :-: Rabbi Moshe Mordechai
To: Sulaymaniyah
Delay the first convoy until the notification of the Baghdad Travel Director
Head of the Community
Name Name: Samuel Daoud Shatoub
Signature Signature: ⟦signature⟧
Address Address: Head of the Israelite Community
20 / 2 / 50
The sender of the telegram must observe paragraph
three written on the back of this form
written on the back of this form
The telegram is sent according to the conditions
Regarding the subject
Revocation of Citizenship
Page 142
1324 / 50
3 March 1950
His Excellency the Respected Minister of Interior
Greetings and respect,
I enclose herewith a copy of a telegram received by us from the leadership of the Jewish community in
Basra and its Lay Council, which speaks for itself without need for explanation or comment, other than expressing
deep pain regarding the conditions mentioned therein. I have firm hope that your justice will not fail to
restore matters to their proper order.
Please accept the highest expressions of respect,
⟦illegible⟧
Acting Head of the Community
President of the Lay Council
Summary of the conditions under which inland telegrams are accepted
1 - This telegram is sent in accordance with the inland telegraph regulations published in the Iraqi Post and Telegraph Guide.
2 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration shall not be responsible for delay, error, loss, or damage that may occur to the telegram from its non-transmission or non-delivery, during sending or distribution.
3 - The sender of the telegram must write in the space provided on the left side of the address on the face of the form the indication under which he wishes to send the telegram, such as urgent or that the fee for its reply is paid in advance. If the telegram is in the interest of the Iraqi government, the word (Official) is written.
4 - The Iraqi Post and Telegraph Administration has the right to refuse to register the telegram, and it also has the right not to send it even if it has been registered for sending or distribution. In this case, its fee is returned to the sender upon submitting a request for that.
5 - Requests related to the recovery of fees and all complaints about telegrams are submitted to the General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs in Baghdad.
6 - To prevent errors, this telegram should be written carefully and clearly.
⟦Department⟧ ⟦Post⟧ ⟦and Telegraph⟧
Conditions on which Inland Telegrams are accepted
1. This telegram shall be forwarded in accordance with the Inland Telegraph Rules, published in the 'Iraq Post and Telegraph Guide.
2. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, 'Iraq, shall not be liable to make compensation for any delay, error, loss, injury or damage arising from omission, non-transmission or non-delivery of the telegram.
3. The sender may write the instructions in the space provided at the left side of the address, on the face of this form, such as Urgent, Reply Paid, or State of on 'Iraq Government Service.
4. The Administration of Posts and Telegraphs, 'Iraq, may decline to accept the telegram. It may also decline to forward it although it has been booked. In such case the amount paid for transmission shall be refunded to the sender on application.
5. Complaints and applications for refund should be addressed to the Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs, Baghdad.
6. To prevent mistakes this telegram must be legibly written.
⟦1951/3/15⟧
Page 143
3 / 2 / 1950
Copy of a telegram from the Presidency of the Jewish Community
in Basra dated 3 / 2 / 1950
His Excellency the President of the Jewish Community in Baghdad
The Honorable Mr. Heskel Shetub
The Presidency of the Jewish Community in Basra places before Your Excellency the following matters: -
1 - Freedom of movement .. The members of my community have been deprived of movement within the borders of the province and even within the city's neighborhoods
so they are unable to move to conduct their private business, which has led to the lack of means of livelihood for them
2 - The train station, the airport, and other roads .. The responsible authorities have made it a habit to detain all Jewish persons
coming from Baghdad or from any other Iraqi city such as Nasiriyah, Amarah, and Aziz, whether they arrived by train or
by plane or by car, whether they were Basrawis or others, and taking them to His Excellency the Investigating Judge where, after long investigations
he decides to release them on bail, detain them, or return them under guard to the city they came from, which has caused all
members of my community to refrain from traveling outside the city of Basra for their trade or seeking a livelihood, and thus movement has been paralyzed
commercial activity, which led to many members of the community approaching their presidency requesting the necessary financial assistance
to secure their livelihood and the livelihood of their families.
The provincial police ⟦to it⟧ have insulted many of our community's figures without justification at the train station or the airport, which
caused severe resentment among the members of the community.
3 - Members of the community cannot walk in the city streets after dark, as incidents of assault or
robbery have frequently occurred against them by some individuals and groups; indeed, Jews are being led to police stations
by civilians on the pretext of suspicion of the charge of escaping, simply for being found walking in the streets of
Basra.
4 - The responsible authorities have requested every person who sold or sells his property or furniture to provide a guarantee bond, knowing that
this request is illegal as there is no order prohibiting Jews from selling their property or furniture.
5 - The scenes that occur near the Courthouse after the Jewish defendants leave are more than can be described
or recorded, as they and the rest of the Jewish individuals from their families are insulted before the eyes of the police, their clothes are torn, and they are pelted
with stones, which has become unbearable.
6 - In general, stability has vanished for the members of my community for the reasons mentioned. Therefore, we and all members of
the Community's Lay Council and all members of the community have come to you hoping for mediation with the competent authorities in Baghdad
to stop these assaults, insults, and illegal matters at their limit, and to strive with these authorities to make
the members of my community enjoy what is stipulated in the provisions of the Iraqi Constitution and what is required by the laws and regulations in force.
With much respect to Your Excellency
Signature / President of the Jewish Community in Basra
5 signatures of the members of the Lay Council in Basra
Page 144
Baghdad on 12 / 5 / 1951
To the Presidency of the Israelite Community in Baghdad
Presented to your presence
We are the residents of the Meir Synagogue and we have decided as of today to renounce Iraqi citizenship
after they plundered our money. We have taken refuge in the aforementioned synagogue and we have gathered
in the synagogue from the people of Baghdad as well.
And we are in dire need of any assistance whatsoever. Since the synagogue has begun
to become crowded for us due to the large number of visitors who are constantly moving to it, and the building cannot
support our children even for one day because we are unemployed without work and destitute of money.
So we ask your presence to help us and supervise us or contact us
to look into our health and financial situation, which is worsening day by day.
May God preserve you for our service and the service of those like us, the poor Iraqis.
The signatories - residents of the Masouda Shemtov Synagogue
We request a study of the housing issue for the owners
of the kindergarten and is it possible
⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible⟧
Page 147
1- Complaints from members of the community <del>in</del> ⟦some⟧ northern provinces and villages regarding persecution and misery (Tuz Khurmatu
Kifri . Shahraban . Zakho . Khanaqin . Murder of a Jew near Aqrah - residents of the synagogue
Munshi Saleh from the people of Shushin, Susnawa, Hindawa, and Dubi)
2- Lack of freedom of movement between Baghdad, Khanaqin, Kifri, Shahraban, and some other cities
3- Complaints from the people of (Halabja, Baqubah, Shahraban, Al-Muqdadiya, Al-Shamiya, Nasiriyah
and Amarah) regarding the delay in deciding on the revocation of their citizenship, as they have sold everything they own
and are waiting for deportation.
4- Withdrawal of licenses from lawyers who signed citizenship revocation forms before the Council of Ministers' decision
to revoke their citizenship.
5- Restrictions on the transfer of car ownership by requiring the presentation of a (non-revocation) certificate from the Travel
and Nationality Police.
6- Discussing the progress of revocation and deportation matters, the difficulties of prohibition, income tax, and the proposal to create
a special directorate for the revocation of citizenship.
- The issue of guarantees for students of the College of Medicine and Pharmacy
- The poor health situation of prisoners in Nugrat al-Salman
Page 148
1- Complaints from members of the community in ⟦some⟧ northern districts and villages regarding persecution and misery (Tuz Khurmatu,
Kifri, Shahraban, Zakho, Khanaqin, the killing of a Jew near Aqrah - residents of the Menashi
Saleh synagogue from the people of Shushin, Susnawa, Hazara, and Dubi).
2- Lack of freedom of movement between Baghdad, Khanaqin, Kifri, Shahraban, and some other cities.
3- Complaints from the people of (Halabja, Baqubah, Shahraban, Al-Muqdadiya, Al-Shamiya, Nasiriyah,
and Amarah) regarding the delay in deciding on the revocation of their citizenship, as they have sold everything they own
and are waiting for deportation.
4- Withdrawal of licenses from lawyers who signed citizenship revocation forms before the Council of
Ministers' decision to revoke their citizenship.
5- Restrictions on the transfer of car ownership, requiring the presentation of a (non-revocation) certificate from the Travel
and Nationality Police.
6- Slowness in the process of revocation and deportation, difficulties with bans and income tax, and the proposal to create
a special directorate for the revocation of citizenship.
- The issue of guarantees for students of the College of Medicine and Pharmacy.
- The poor health situation of prisoners in Nuqrat al-Salman.
Page 149
Number | Full Name | Neighborhood and House Number | Passport Number | Liwa | Ticket Number | Remarks
1 | Latifa Saleh Ibrahim | Aqd Bahr | 7 | Baghdad | 1 | 29 / 10 / 50
2 | Mozi Rahmin Shaul | Bab al-Agha 7 / 109 | 16 | '' | '' | ''
3 | Naji Shaul Daoud | Taht al-Takiya | 2 | '' | '' | ''
4 | Raouf Haifa Koh | Bataween 22 / 8 / 1 | 12 | '' | '' | ''
5 | Victor Ahmed Jabji | Taht al-Takiya | 4 | '' | '' | ''
6 | Daoud Haqiqa Twayq | Karrada 148 / 129 | 18 | '' | '' | ''
7 | Hesqail Yona Askar | Bataween | 1 | '' | '' | ''
8 | Shaul al-Zaid Ezra | Bustan al-Khass | 5 | '' | '' | ''
9 | Mozi Yona Twayq | Bataween | 2 | '' | '' | ''
10 | Ibrahim Shiaa Abd | Faraj Allah | | '' | '' | ''
11 | Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim | Taht al-Takiya 90 / 140 | 9 | '' | '' | ''
12 | Daoud Salman Saleh | '' 12 / 112 | 19 | '' | '' | ''
13 | Nadira Daoud '' | '' | '' | '' | '' | ''
14 | Munir '' | '' | 12 | '' | '' | ''
15 | Badriya '' | '' | 9 | '' | '' | ''
16 | Claudette '' | '' | 7 | '' | '' | ''
17 | Rahmin '' | '' | 5 | '' | '' | ''
18 | Naim Matta Eliyahu | '' 12 / 112 | 10 | '' | '' | ''
19 | Madiha Daoud Salman | '' | 14 | '' | '' | ''
20 | Eliza Daoud Salman | '' | 12 | '' | '' | ''
21 | Dori Saleh Abdullah | Alwiyah | 6 | '' | '' | ''
22 | Shaul Haifa Koh | '' | 25 | '' | '' | ''
23 | Nouri Abdullah Daoud | Bustan al-Khass 10 / 14 / 15 | | '' | '' | ''
24 | Lulu Ibrahim Tawfiq | Karrada al-Sharqiya | 29 | '' | '' | ''
25 | Isaac Saleh Abdullah | Bataween | 6 | '' | '' | ''
26 | Ezra Yusuf Samah | Karrada al-Sharqiya | 24 | '' | '' | ''
27 | Abdullah Haqiqa Salman | Hamilton 1 / 25 / 17 | | '' | '' | ''
28 | Salwa Salman Shuaa | '' 15 / 41 / 20 | | '' | '' | ''
Page 150
To His Excellency the Honorable Head of the Community
May God grant you happiness
We have appealed many times and received no result, and now there is danger
to our lives. My lord, we have abandoned our properties and wealth, and how
can we defend ourselves?
My lord, we hope from God and from your Excellency that you
will prepare a report for us and save us from the village of Sadur
since on Saturday night our neighbor informed us that they will attack the village
and kill the known individuals.
My lord, we took cars and fled to Duhok and we came
to Baghdad and we came to your Excellency.
My lord, we hope you will provide us with a place so that we can bring our families
to Baghdad until our matter is resolved.
My lord, they have prohibited all sales of fruit and the things we have because
if anyone comes and buys something from us, even ⟦bread⟧ or poplar
or wood, they fine him fifty or a hundred dinars.
Day by day, day by day, the injustice increases, so we hope for your opinion, my lord.
Lover Shalom Benjamin Khosh | Abdullah Yusuf | Merki
Nahum Elia | Moshi Yusuf | Moshi Nahum