A Committee of Concern has been formed to concentrate world attention on political trials and hangings of Jews, Christians and other minority members in Iraq, as well as on discrimination in other Mideast countries.
The chairman is Gen. Lucius D, Clay (Ret.), a former commander of the United States forces in Europe and now a corporate executive. The Committee is made up of important figures in religion, business, arts and sciences, universities, public affairs and civil rights.
Gen Clay said that his Committee would seek the release of Jews imprisoned in Iraq, would attempt to ensure Iraqi Jews’ freedom of movement within that country and would try to facilitate their emigration. He indicated that a number of countries, including the United States and Canada, said they would accept Iraqi refugees if the Baghdad Government permitted its Jews to leave. An impetus for creation of the Committee was two sets of executions by Iraq this year of men, including 11 Jews, on charges of spying for Israel and the U.S. Gen Clay expressed fear that further espionage trials and executions may lie ahead.
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