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120 Dead, 150 Injured in Baghdad Riots Last June, Report Reveals

December 19, 1941
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The toll in lives and property damage taken by the Nazi reign of terror in Iraq last June was revealed for the first time today when Mr. Joseph C. Hyman, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, announced that his organization in cooperation with the American Joint Reconstruction Foundation, is making available $60,000 to aid in reconstruction and rehabilitation in riot-torn Baghdad.

The anti-Semitic disturbances, which broke out in the ancient Iraq capital on the accession to power of the Nazi-dominated regime of Rashi Ali El Galiani, resulted in the death of 120 Jews, serious injury to 150 others and the looting of homes and business establishments affecting more than 14,500 persons, Mr. Hyman Bald. The reign of terror lasted for a little more than two weeks, until British troops forced the flight of El Galieni to Iran.

The havoc wreaked by the pogroms was attested to by the American Minister to Iraq, Paul Knabenshue who, in verifying reported casualty figures of the terror wave, said, according to Mr. Hyman, “Anything American Jewry can do to relieve the situation is well warranted and would be highly appreciated.”

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