Anti-Semitism in Iraq, 1918-1942

This paper will argue anti-Semitism in Iraq emerged from nationalism and notions of dhimmī, non-Muslims under Islamic rule; in the period of 1918-1942. Beginning with the Ottoman era, the paper will explore how conventions justified Muslim monopolies on power: Jews were depicted as unfit and needing protection. With Iraq’s establishment, these themes created a genre of Muslims saving Jews, or treating Jews well, and Jews appreciating Arab-Muslim rule. Nationalism revered Arabism, Islam and pushed Arab sovereignty, but kept dhimmī adages of protecting minorities. In 1918, the British Mandate too imposed an Arab-Muslim character on society, but, after 1924, Arabism turned to vilifying minorities. Scorning Jews was celebrated to affirm Muslim-Arab authority. In 1933, this rhetoric of contempt increased and became violent when troops massacred 400 Assyrians. The state did not want to tarnish its images of government, Islam or Arabism, so the killings were portrayed as a rescue of sovereignty. In such a context, rhetoric against Jews turned brutal. King Ghāzī I’s radio incitement brought the state’s authority against them. External factors did not originate these changes. Nazism and Palestine affirmed convictions Iraqis already held. Proponents of Jew-hatred never surrendered Iraq’s Ottoman-era hierarchy of Muslims and dhimmīs, nor tolerated criticism of means used to enforce it. The result was a positive feedback loop: anti-Jewish persecutions encouraged more persecutions, as the original oppression was exalted. Complaints of wrongdoing violated dhimmī stereotypes and aroused more mistreatment. This process repeated in the Farhūd, the mass violence against Jews in 1941.