The Farhud

The Farhud— “violent dispossession” — was the pro-Nazi massacre of Jews in Iraq, June 1–2, 1941. It was followed by the expulsion of 850,000 Jews from Arab countries to Israel. Historian and investigative reporter Edwin Black, founder of International Farhud Day, documented the event and its aftermath in his bestselling The Farhud.

International Farhud Day was first observed on June 1, 2015, at a ceremony at United Nations HQ sponsored by the IAJLJ, the AAJLJ, and StandWithUs, in association with Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, the Israeli-American Council, the Auto Channel, and a coalition of international organizations.

Observances of International Farhud Day have been held in the years since 2015 on or about June 1, and Google has included it in its list of holidays and observances.

In May 2024, the Knesset advanced legislation to commemorate the Farhud every June 1.

Edwin has given many presentations on the Farhud and the subsequent expulsions (commemmorated beginning in 2020 as Yom HaGirush). Here are some: BookTV, 9 Feb 2011; Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, 29 May 2014. He has also covered these topics several times on The Edwin Black Show.