Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969–1972

280. Telegram 36204 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Nepal¹ ²

Washington, March 4, 1971, 0124Z

Subject:

• Arrest of Iraqi Jews

1. FOR KATHMANDU: Would appreciate Embassy passing to UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin Agha Khan, who understood currently to be visiting NEPAL, following information before his departure for Dacca on March 6. Prince is understood to be planning visit to Baghdad around March 15 possibly before returning to Geneva.

2. Department has received several reports during recent weeks of arrests in Baghdad in late December 1970 and early January 1971 of Jewish physicians and pharmacists. Principal source of these reports is American citizen Tawfic Raby, an employee of U.S. Bureau of Standards. Raby’s brother, Dr. Albert Raby, a physician, is one of thos reportedly arrested. According earlier reports Albert Raby had been released from jail but recent message from US Interests Section of Belgian Embassy in Baghdad indicates he still under arrest.

3. According Tawfic Raby’s latest information situation of Jews in Baghdad has become “extremely bad.” Help is said to be urgently needed. Reports that some arrested Jewish physicians and pharmacists had been released have turned out to be false, according most recent report. Moreover, around 20 other persons of Jewish faith in Baghdad have been under arrest since early January or late December. This is a separate category from the physicians and pharmacists. Iraqi authorities have given none of arrestees any hint as to reasons behind arrests and few if any of them have been questioned by incarcerating authorities.

4. Names are unavailable of non-physician and non-pharmacist category of arrestees. However, physicians and pharmacists include in addition to five members of the Hakim family, Haskell Nakkar, Daoud Bassoon, Haroun Shemie, Haskell Shohet and his wife Muzli Shohet and Tawfic’s brother, Dr. Albert Raby. Tawfic had earlier feared having names of arrestees mentioned to Iraqi authorities on grounds that this might make their situation worse. However, in view of latest reports indicating a worsening situation, he believes an inquiry by High Commissioner about specific persons might be helpful.

5. Department hopes that while visiting Baghdad, High Commissioner will inquire into foregoing arrests and express his concern over welfare of these affected. If he could also urge their release from jail and while High Commissioner is still physically present in Baghdad, we believe Iraqis might well respond favorably.

6. FOR DACCA: In event Embassy Kathmandu was unable bring foregoing to attention Prince Sadruddin during his Nepal stay, would appreciate your passing information on to him during his scheduled stopover in Dacca from March 6 to March 8.

7. FOR BRUSSELS: Please pass foregoing to REPIR Baghdad for information.

END

Rogers

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 29 IRAQ. Confidential. Repeated to Dacca, Mission Geneva for RMRC, Brussels, and USUN. Drafted by Killgore; cleared by Albert P. Burleigh (NEA/INC), Frank G. Trinka (EUR/AIS), Laurence A. Dawson (S/R-ORM), Craig Baxter (NEA/PAF), J. Theodore Papendorp (EUR/FBX), Clement J. Sobotka, S/R; Seelye; and Orson W. Trueworthy, S/R-ORM; approved by Atherton.
2. The Department instructed the Embassy to request that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees inquire about recent reports of arrests of Iraqi Jews in Baghdad.