The Decline and Persecution of Iraqi Jews: A Tragic History

Following the creation of Iraq and the upheaval after World War I, the Jewish population in Baghdad, once numbering around 135,000, dramatically decreased to just a handful today. This article delves into the causes and context of this mass exodus, from the periods of relative peace to the waves of persecution that ultimately led to the near-disappearance of the nation's Jewish community.

The Early Years and Golden Age

After WWI, Iraq welcomed a significant Jewish population, with around 80,000 Jews living in Baghdad, comprising roughly 40% of the city's population. What contributed to this substantial population? Jewish communities in Iraq date back to 2500 BCE, making them contemporaries of the ancient Babylonians. From the early 1920s to the 1930s, this period is often referred to as the 'Golden Age' for Iraqi Jews. Under King Faisal I, there was a supportive attitude towards the Jewish community, which played crucial roles in parliament, education, and culture (Faisal-Weizmann agreement). However, anti-Jewish sentiment was simmering below the surface due to the belief of some Iraqis that Jews had a disproportionate influence in government, education, and the economy.

The Rise of Nazism and Arab Nationalism

The 1930s saw a significant shift. Though King Faisal I vehemently opposed the British and encouraged respect for Christians and Jews, his death in 1933 marked a turning point. Sunni Palestinians began to move to Baghdad, and pro-Nazi activities emerged, leading to the founding of militant organizations like Al-Futuwwa and Al-Muthanna. The Nazi influence was notably facilitated by Fritz Grob downloader, the German ambassador to Iraq.

Following King Faisal's death, his successor, Gazi, and the new government imposed stricter restrictions on the Jewish population, including restrictions on education and the use of Hebrew. Iraq's relationship with Germany further deteriorated, but the Nazi influence persisted. This culminated in the 1941 Farhud massacre, which marked the first pogrom against the Jewish community in Iraq, resulting in 180 deaths and significant destruction of Jewish property.

The Aftermath of World War II and the Creation of Israel

Following the creation of Israel in 1948, the remaining Jewish population in Iraq faced increasingly severe persecution. Restrictions were placed on Jewish property and movement, and many were forced to emigrate. In 1950, in a bid to stem the emigration, the Iraqi government offered to allow Jews to leave the country legally, provided they forfeited their citizenship and assets. This ploy led to a wave of emigration. By 1951, 121,633 Jews had left Iraq through Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, with only 15,000 remaining.

The decade that followed saw a brief period of relative calm under the government of Abd al-Karim Qassem. However, the rise of the Baath regime under Ahmad Hasan al-Al Refa ie marked a return to discrimination, including exclusion from colleges and denial of passports. By 1973, the majority of the remaining 3,350 Jews had escaped, leading to the almost complete evacuation of the Jewish community from Iraq by the early 1990s.

The End of the Jewish Community in Iraq

Since then, the Jewish community in Iraq has essentially vanished. In 2013, it was estimated that just five Jews remained, an elderly group that is expected to dwindle to zero. The population shift in the Jewish community in Iraq is stark, with numbers plummeting from 135,000 in 1948 to 7 in 2011 and a mere 5 by 2014. The population is now effectively gone, with Mizrahim from Iraqi descent now forming a significant part of Israel's Jewish population.

This tragic history underscores the fate of the Iraqi Jews and their significant contribution to Iraqi society. Today, only a handful remain, with their story serving as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of persecution and ethnic cleansing.