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"Justice for Jews From Arab Countries"

Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC), a worldwide coalition of major Jewish organizations, congratulated the Iraqi people and Iraq's Governing Council on the adoption of the "Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period."

"It appears that the stage has been set for a new system of justice and the rule of law" stated S. Daniel Abraham, Founding Chairman of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries. "We hope that this signals the beginning of a process to rectify historical injustices and discriminatory measures perpetrated by previous Iraq regimes."

James S. Tisch, Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said: "We believe this landmark document enshrines for each Iraqi "the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religious belief and practice" (Article 13 {F}), which has been denied them for so long. Furthermore, the Transitional Administrative Law that was signed in Baghdad on March 8, 2004, states that "Any Iraqi whose Iraqi citizenship was withdrawn for political, religious, racial or sectarian reasons has the right to reclaim his Iraqi citizenship" (Article 11 {D}). We trust that this will be universally applied to all groups forced to leave Iraq."

Stanley A. Urman, Executive Director of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, declared: "We welcome the assurances of US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the new Transitional Administrative Law will not discriminate against Jews or others."

It is time to fight for the rights for Jews who lived and were persecuted in Arab or Muslim countries. It is an issue for compensations. The organization is a coalition of Jewish communal organizations operating under the auspices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the American Sephardi Federation, the World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries (WOJAC), in partnership with the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, AntiDefamation League, B'nai Brith International, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the World Sephardic Congress.

Among the leaders who dedicate their public life to this target are: Irwin Cotler, Leon Levy, Richard Holbrook, Lord Weidenfeld, James S. Tisch, Mortimer Zuckerman, and others.