Voices from the Archive

IJA 3249

Correspondence between United Nations and Iraqi Government

View interactive document page

Description

These are letters and correspondence from the Iraqi government concerning a United Nations inquiry about alleged human rights violations against suspected Communists.

Metadata

Archive Reference
IJA 3249
Item Number
16660
Date
Approx. January 1, 1941 to December 31, 1950
Languages
Arabic, English
Keywords
Communist, Correspondence, Annotation, Ministry of the Interior, Handwritten, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Crown Crest, Middle Eastern Politics, United Nations, Typed, Iraqi Government

AI en Translation, Pages 1-25

Page 2

Secret Pen
1949
Ministry of Interior of Iraq 420
File Number
54/61
Title | Foreign Policy
Subject | The complaint submitted to the United Nations
regarding the Iraqi government's treatment of communist elements

Page 4

22
United Nations in New York
No. - SO 2/317 .
The Secretary-General of the United Nations presents his compliments to the Acting Permanent Representative
of Iraq to the United Nations and, pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution
No. 75 (5) as amended by resolution 275 B (10), has the honor to transmit a copy
of the communication dated 9/1/1956 regarding human rights which refers to
Iraq.
The list of confidential communications to be submitted to the Commission on Human Rights
at its thirteenth session will include a brief summary of the communication.
The attention of the Acting Permanent Representative is invited to Economic and Social Council resolution
No. 192 E (8). In the event that His Excellency's Government decides to reply to the
attached communication, the Secretary-General requests the Acting Permanent Representative to indicate whether he wishes
the reply to be presented to the Commission on Human Rights in summary or detailed form.
10/18/1956

Page 5

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
43753
Number M/4829/46/1010
Baghdad on 12/27/1956
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secret Intelligence Division
Number 7568
Date 12/27/1956
Secret
Department: Political
United Nations and Conferences Division
Permanent Iraqi Mission to the United Nations
Subject / Complaint to the United Nations
With reference to your letter numbered 20/2/229 dated 10/19/1956
We had requested the Ministry of Interior in our letter numbered M/4829/46/11
dated 11/22/1956 attached herewith to provide us with the
information they have regarding the subject and they replied in their letter numbered QS/3486 and dated
12/22/1956 attached herewith.
⟦signature⟧
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Amin al-Mumayiz
Copy to: -
Ministry of Interior - with reference to its letter mentioned above.
Hazem / M 24
1002
Sayyid Taha ⟦...⟧
⟦signature⟧
12/27
⟦illegible stamp⟧
12/27

Page 6

⟦7⟧
Translation of the letter dated September 1st sent by a person in Iraq
Human Rights Commission
United Nations Organization
New York
The Iraqi government, in its treatment of us, does not adhere to any of
the humanitarian laws or constitutions. We would not be wrong if we claimed that the government
of Iraq, since its signing of the so-called "Baghdad Pact," has been conspiring to slaughter us.
Specifically when a criminal act was committed in 1953 against political prisoners
in Nuqrat al-Salman prison, where (20) prisoners were killed and 65
others were seriously injured.
We appeal to you to intervene and save our lives, which are now threatened with death,
and we also ask your committee to send a representative to witness our bitter lives.
Signed

Page 7

29
(( Copy of the letter from the Permanent Representative of Iraq in New York No. 229 / 2 / 20 dated ))
10 / 19 / 1956 addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
We present herewith a copy of the memorandum from the Secretary-General of the United Nations dated
10 / 18 / 1956 with a copy of its attachment regarding the complaint sent by an Iraqi citizen
For your kind review and to inform us of your instructions in this regard.
Signed / ⟦...⟧ Permanent Representative

Page 8

21/52
Ministry of the Interior
Directorate of General Police
Number 4725
Date 8 / 10 / 1949
Directorate of General Police
Baghdad
Number 4121
Date 1 / 10 / 1949
Operations Division
Secret
Ministry of the Interior
L
Subject - The complaint at the United Nations against Iraq.
With reference to your letter No. Q/S/2050 dated 18/9/1949.
Your Excellency notes from the content of the attachments of your letter answered above that the telegrams
and letters are issued by individuals and institutions outside Iraq, and they clearly show
that their senders are followers of communist principles or their supporters, and these and their likes
are those who persist in raising complaints against governments that combat destructive principles.
It is not excluded that such complaints may be from persons who were in Iraq
or have a connection to it, such as Yusuf Ismail residing in France and others who plot
against Iraq and promote propaganda and slanders against it abroad.
D. H
1/2
⟦illegible⟧
8/10
Director General of Police
⟦illegible⟧
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed this Ministry of a copy of the letter from the General Secretariat
of the United Nations regarding the complaint submitted by some persons and institutions
regarding the Iraqi government's treatment of detained and imprisoned communist elements.
The Secretariat requested an answer to the points in detail and in brief
if the Iraqi government wished to respond to them. Foreign Affairs inquired about
the opinion of this Ministry on the subject. So we wrote to the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
to state what His Excellency the Prime Minister deems appropriate. However, the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
wrote to each of the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Justice regarding
whether these ministries should give an answer or not.
The Ministry of Justice preferred not to answer these points.
The Ministry of Defense left the matter of giving an answer or not to the opinion of His Excellency the Prime Minister.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees giving an answer even in a brief form,
provided that the answer is completed by the competent authorities accurately, because we see that
silence in such a case is not consistent with the public interest and may be exploited as evidence
of the validity of the allegations and malicious claims.
What this ministry has done is to look into the studies of the General Police,
and in its letter above it finds an answer that did not give a clear idea of its opinion on
responding to these false claims and allegations.
However, I see that we should write to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers that what
the Iraqi government did in pursuing and treating communist elements is nothing but the application of the provisions
of prevailing local laws, and there is no conflict in its action with the public liberties stipulated
in the Constitution, given that the actions of these elements are considered a direct threat to the entity
and safety of the Kingdom. Thus, responding to these allegations or not remains up to what is deemed by
His Excellency the Prime Minister. And I agree - ⟦illegible⟧ 8/10
For notice
⟦illegible⟧
11/10

Page 10

22
Copy of a letter dated 1 September from
an individual in Iraq
Committee of Human Rights
UNITED NATION ORGANISATION
NEW YORK.
United States of America
The Government of Iraq in its treatment towards us, does not adhere
to any human laws or constitutions. We will not be mistaken<del>mx</del> in
assuming that the Government of Iraq, since signing the so called
" Baghdad Pact" is plotting a massacar for us, especially as such
criminal act was committed in 1953 against the Political Prisoners
of Baghdad and Nourkrat- Al- Salman Prisons, where 20 prisoners were
killed and 65 other badly injured.
We are appealing to you so that you may interfere and save our lives
now threatened by death, and also ask your committee to send a delegation
to witness our deadly lives.
( signed)

Page 11

42
Ministry of the Interior
General Police Directorate
Political Branch
To " -
Ministry of the Interior
Secret
Secret Intelligence Branch
No. 7195
Date 17 / 12 / 56
Baghdad on 16 / 12 / 1956
No. - 2429
Ministry of the Interior
Subject / Complaint to the United Nations
Reference to your letter No. Q. S. / 3236 dated 2 / 12 / 1956
There is no doubt that the complainant is a communist prisoner or was previously among the prisoners, and your honor is
fully aware that what he alleged in his complaint is not based on reality and is nothing more than hypocrisy and fabrication intentionally
formulated by the complainant ⟦in this way⟧ to tarnish the reputation of the Iraqi government, as is the case with communists in all their destructive
actions and activities.
Approved
⟦Signature⟧
⟦10 / 12 / 56⟧
⟦Signature⟧
Bahjat al-Atiyyah
For the Director General of Police
17 / 12
1 - It has been reviewed with the desire to prepare an
appropriate response to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on what was stated
in the letter of the Director General of Police.
Delivered 101 17 / 12

Page 12

⟦20⟧
C
O
P
Y
UNITED NATIONS  NEW YORK
SOA  317/02
The Secretary - General of the United Nations presents his
compliments to the Acting Permanent Representative of Iraq to
the United Nations and has the honour to transmit, in accord-
ance with Economic and Social Council resolution 75 ( V ) , as
amended by resolution 275 B ( X ) , a copy of a communication
dated 1 September 1956 concerning human rights which refers to
Iraq.
A brief indication of the substance of the communication
<del>⟦illegible⟧</del> will be included in a confidential list of communications
which will be submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its
thirteenth session.
The attention of the Acting Permanent Representative <del>⟦illegible⟧</del>
is drawn to resolution 192 A ( VIII) of the Economic and Social
Council.  In the event that His Excellency's Government decides to
reply to the attached communication, the Secretary - General
requests the Acting Permanent Representative to indicate whether
he wishes reply to be presented to the Commission on Human Rights
in summary form or in full.
18 October 1956.

Page 13

Iraq
Ministry of Interior
Baghdad
Secret Intelligence Division
Number Q 5 S / 284
Date 17 / 1 / 1955
18
Secret
⟦Department Circular⟧
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject / Complaint from Iraqi lawyers
against the Iraqi government
Further to our letter number Q 5 S / 4392 dated 26 / 12 / 954
we send herewith a copy of the Ministry of Justice letter number Q 5 S / 961 dated
27 / 12 / 1954 for your kind information.
Correct
p.p. Minister of Interior
Mumtaz Al-Omari
A copy of it with a copy of the Ministry of
Justice letter to: -
Presidency of the Cabinet Office
A copy of it to: -
Ministry of Justice.
1/17
7
Abd

Page 14

Iraqi Government
Ministry of Justice
Secret Correspondence Division
Ministry of Interior
Secret Intelligence Division
Number 7932
Date 28 / 12 / 1954
No. Q. S /: ⟦10000⟧
Date: 27 / 12 / 1954
Secret
202
A copy is sent
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
for information
Ministry of Interior
Subject - Complaint from Iraqi lawyers
against the Iraqi government
Reference to your letter No. Q. S / 4392 dated 26 / 12 / 1954.
Upon reviewing the complaint filed with the United Nations, it appeared that the intent
was to defame the measures taken by the Iraqi government by issuing the decrees mentioned
in the body of the complaint.
We find in this complaint a challenge to the government's powers and constitutional rights
and at the same time it contains what constitutes some of the crimes provided for in Chapter Twelve
of the Baghdad Penal Code, but we do not find what justifies taking legal measures against
the complainants and authorizing their prosecution because they will use the subject of this complaint
as arguments to attack the government's general policy and make the courts platforms from which to broadcast
their harmful propaganda in the name of human rights, the sanctity of the constitution, the right of citizenship, etc.
Perhaps they wanted that so they could spread their propaganda by publishing trials and judgments.
This does not prevent
some of them from not having
ill intentions and being sound
Muhammad Ali Mahmoud
Minister of Justice
202
A - Information has been noted and the order regarding it is to reply to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Minister's letter in which
it requested this Ministry to express its opinion regarding this complaint
⟦illegible signature⟧
28 / 12
The Ministry of Justice should have sent a copy of this letter to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and to the other parties to whom we sent a copy of our letter to which
they replied; subsequently we were asked to express our opinion on the matter
In view of this answer, nothing remains in the matter except dealing with the postal case ⟦illegible⟧
⟦illegible signature⟧
28 / 12
The complaint from our file which
Foreign Affairs requested the answer
while the Ministry of Justice answers
Ministry of Interior

Page 15

Iraq
Ministry of Interior
Baghdad
Secret Intelligence Division
Number Q 50 S 4292
Date 26 / 12 / 1954
Secret
For Intelligence
Ministry of Justice
Subject - Complaint from Iraqi lawyers
against the Iraqi government.
We refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter number AM / 4126 / 2 / 11 dated
18 / 11 / 1954 addressed to us and to you, and we kindly ask you to inform us
whether what these lawyers have done is punishable and under the jurisdiction
of which law it falls.
Minister of Interior
S M
M D
25 / 12 / 54
⟦illegible⟧
A copy to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for kind review
referring to your aforementioned letter.
Presidency of the Cabinet Office - for kind review
- with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter
mentioned above.
Al-Qaisi
12/25

Page 16

Iraq
Ministry of Interior
Baghdad
No. Q/S/⟦line⟧
Date ⟦22⟧/12/1954
⟦Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Iraq⟧
Secret Intelligence Department
Secret
Ministry of Justice
Subject - Complaint from Iraqi lawyers
against the Iraqi government.
We refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter No. AM / 4126 / 2 / 11 dated
18/11/1954 addressed to us and to you, and we kindly ask you to inform us
whether what these lawyers have done is punishable and under the jurisdiction of
which law this falls.
Minister of Interior
A copy to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - for your kind information
with reference to your aforementioned letter.
Presidency of the Cabinet Office - for your kind information
- with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter
mentioned above.
Al-Qaisi
12/25

Page 18

Kingdom of Iraq
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Number ⟦line⟧ AM/2/4126/11
Baghdad on 12/18/1954
Ministry of Interior:
Secret Intelligence Department:
Number: 7722
Date: 12/18/954
Department - Political
United Nations Division
and Conferences
Secret and Urgent
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Justice
Subject - Complaint of a number of Iraqi lawyers
against the Iraqi government
We enclose herewith a copy of the letter from the Permanent Iraqi Mission to the United Nations numbered
8/6/290 and dated 11/27/1954 and a copy of each of its attachments regarding the subject.
Given the importance of the matter, it appeared to this Ministry necessary to obtain your opinion regarding what was stated in
the complaint under discussion, so that the Iraqi Mission can organize its response to it in light of the
observations you will provide about it.
f. Minister of Foreign Affairs
⟦signature⟧
Baha Awni
Copy to :-
Presidency of the Cabinet Office - with a copy of the letter from the Permanent Iraqi Mission to the United Nations
mentioned above and a copy of each of its attachments for your kind
perusal.
Permanent Iraqi Mission to the United Nations - New York
YS/15
⟦signature⟧
12 / 21

Page 19

27
59161
Iraqi Government
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
General Political Department
Number G//11/270/11/⟦line⟧
24392
Baghdad on 5 / 11 / 1949
Ministry of Interior
Directorate of ⟦the Diwan⟧
Number 5270
Date 6 / 11 / 1949
Secret and Urgent
General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
Subject/ Complaint of Communist Elements
With reference to the Ministry of Interior's letter No. Q ⟦M⟧/2314
dated 11/5/1949
We send you herewith a copy of the draft reply prepared by
this Ministry and approved by the Ministry of Interior as per your request, wishing
to kindly provide us with your opinion on it urgently.
On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Copy to :-
Ministry of Interior
102
For kind perusal. By contacting ⟦Foreign Affairs⟧ at this Ministry
p. 26
D/ Al-Qarahghouli
11/6

Page 20

Iraq
Ministry of Interior
Baghdad
Secret Intelligence Division
Number: Q. S. 2712
Date: 1 / 11 / 1949
Top Secret
To:-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Subject: Complaint of Communist elements
With reference to your letter numbered G/770/770/23224 and dated October 27,
1949.
This Ministry is of the view that the proposed draft response prepared by your Ministry serves the purpose
required and that it is appropriate to direct it to the Secretariat of the United Nations.
⟦signature⟧
Acting Minister of Interior
A copy to -
General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Justice
Reference to the letter of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers
Numbered 4708 and dated 30 / 10 / 949.

Page 23

P.
P. M.
I see that the wording of the attached reply
is harsh. And I hope to review it a little.
⟦signature⟧
10/24
Approved
10/25
⟦signature⟧
Q. Y /

Page 24

The Iraqi Government
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department: General Political
Western Section
No. Kh/770/770/11/..
23224
27
Baghdad on .. October 1949
5096
27 / 10 / 949
Top Secret
Ministry of Interior
With reference to the letter of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers No. 4596
dated 20 / 10 / 1949 and the oral conversation that took place yesterday
morning between <del>⟦illegible⟧</del> the Acting Director of the General Political Department at this Ministry
and Mr. Mumtaz al-Omari regarding the complaint submitted to the United Nations
concerning the sentences issued against communists in Iraq.
We send you herewith a copy of the draft reply we have prepared
on the subject, requesting you to kindly provide us with your opinion on its contents urgently.
On behalf of the Foreign Minister
102
Translation of the memorandum
by S. T. 1
and it is attached p.
⟦illegible⟧ 27 / 10
M. D. 2
The attached draft format (in English) suits
the position that it was agreed the Iraqi government should take
regarding this case, and it involves strength in
defending the powers of the competent authorities and non-
recognition of any external party's interference in the Kingdom's affairs
and I suggest approving it. Nizar
27 / 10
M. S.
I hope that
a copy of
the letter
in its final
form
be distributed
5008
22