Selman Dahud escape from Iraq 1971- Part 1

This is the first part of the story of Selman's escape from Iraq in August 1971through kurdistan and Iran. It is typical of many Jewish Iraqi's illegal escape from a dark, frightening period of persecution and hangings carried out by the Baath regime against the Jews. In total some 1,500 to 2,000 Iraqi Jews left between 1970 and 1971. Some went to Israel, others went to the West, mainly London and north America. This part of the story is just like a black comedy. It seems very funny now, related on 8 May 2008 by Selman to Eli Timan in Israel. The conversation takes place in Jewish iraqi dialect at Selman and Lydia's home. we hope to come out with English translation soon. Give us some feedback please.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• iraqi
• jews
• baghdad
• escape
• selman

[mazoona]

This is amazing. Not many people know about the forced expulsion of Jews from Arab and Islamic countries. This is an important part of history and should be documented. I hope you put up more recordings and translations for those who don't speak Arabic. I understood the dialect more or less except for some words and expressions here and there. The story of Eliyahou Mani changing his name to Elias Matti was a hilarious example of life's tragicomic absurdities.

[elitiman]

thanks for your comment. I have recorded by audio several stories of Iraqi Jews who left Iraq. I shall start translating them this summer so if you subscibe to my youtube account, you will see more with translation.

Are you Iraqi? if so, our Jewish iraqi dialect is very similiar to Mosul's. Have a look at Alber Elias's recordings I made. They have English subtitles.

[lavendderrable]

طريقة كلام يهود بغداد والموصليين جميل للغايه واصيل قريب جدا من الفصحى

[fadirsm]

@Babylonia85 I'm also Chaldean, It is so true what you say!!

[Babylonia85]

Wow.. I just listened to this and fully understood.. My last name is Matti .. My family are Chaldean Christians and are originally from Basra but they left Iraq almost 20 years ago.. I was born there too but my parents fled when I was young.. The dialect Selman was speaking in is the same dialect I grew up learning at home.. My parents always tell me of how Jews and Christians were treated as 2nd class citizens..

[samybagdady]

To the Garbage of history to Saddam and Baath Party. Iraqi Jews are honorable people . They did not do any harm to Iraq. They build Iraq but you killed them, you hung them and you deported them for no reason. Iraqi Jews were the original people of Iraq, they were in Iraq for over 2500 years and at least 1000 years before even Islam religion. Because you criminal Saddam and baath party, we lost the best of best and the cream of the cream of the Iraqi people and that is the Iraqi Jews

[mazoona]

I'm originally Nubian from Sudan but have always been interested in Jewish history in the Middle-East and North Africa. I will definitely check out Alber Elias:)

[mazoona]

Arabic is not only the language of Islam by the way. The language has existed long before Islam arrived on the scene and has been spoken by Pagans, Christians, Jews, Druze, Bahais..etc

[sk8boarderboy]

its really weird to s[eak the language of islam (arabic) but worhip in a different language (hebrew) i havnt got anything against it but im just saying youre gonna have to know both hebrew to pray lololo and arabic to speak in your country....but now theyre forced out because of stupid leaders....im iraqi myself :P:P