The Iraq Chamber of Deputies has passed an emergency bill permitting Iraqi Jews to renounce their citizenship and leave the country, the Times of London reported from Baghdad this week-end. The report adds that passage of the measure by the Senate is considered certain.
The bill is said to result from the large-scale smuggling of Jews out of the country to Israel. The report also states that it is understood that the Iraq Government intands, at the earliest opportunity, to restore the Jews to full citizenship rights. These rights were abrogated during the Arab war against Israel.
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