The “Son of Iraq”
Imprint on Tunisia’s Independence
Dr. Yasser Abdul Hussein – Dr. Fatima Jamali
What unites Iraq and Tunisia is more than just a deep-rooted civilisational, historical, and cultural relationship that has existed since the era of Islamic and Arab intellectual exchange between Baghdad and Kairouan. Despite the geographical distance, these ties have remained firmly grounded.
For instance, in 1925, Baghdad became home to the Tunisian leader and founder of the Liberal Constitutional Party, Sheikh Abdel-Aziz Al-Tha’alibi, who fled French persecution and was invited to teach Islamic philosophy at the Al-Bayt University established by King Faisal I. Another testament is the famous ode in praise of the Tunisian people and the nation of Carthage by the great Iraqi
poet Mohammed Mahdi Al-Jawahiri:
Yet, Tunisia’s independence struggle stands out as one of the most critical episodes linking the two nations, through the Iraqi multifaceted support, especially along the diplomatic front. Tunisia’s celebration of Evacuation Day (Eid al-Jalaa) every year on October 15—which just passed a few days ago—serves as a reminder of this proud shared history. The day marks the withdrawal of the last French soldier from Tunisian soil in 1963, specifically from the Bizerte base, which had been France’s final stronghold following Tunisia’s independence in 1956. It was the combination of Tunisian resistance and painstaking diplomatic negotiations by the leaders of the independence movement that forced France’s total evacuation after years of courageous struggle.
Among the key figures defending
Tunisia’s independence was Dr. Mohammed Fadhil Jamali, the renowned Iraqi
diplomat and statesman. His defence of Tunisia at the United Nations has become
a famous story—often told incompletely. Known by his secret pen name “Son of
Iraq”, Dr Jamali left behind a remarkable legacy that stands as a source of
pride for Iraqis, Tunisians, and all Arabs.
To understand this history, we refer
to Jamali’s own memoirs, where he recounts a discussion with Tunisian President
Habib Bourguiba: ‘How can a small nation like Tunisia confront a great power
such as France?’ He replied, ‘By following a policy of gradual stages—take and
demand more.’ I told him, ‘I’m pleased to hear that, for this was precisely the
policy adopted by King Faisal I with the British—and it ultimately led to
Iraq’s independence.’”
This article summarises Dr Jamali’s led diplomatic efforts in support of Tunisia’s independence, which will subsequently be published in full, along with documents and sources, in a joint biography.
- After Bourguiba was exiled to Egypt, the Iraqi Legation in Cairo, headed by Minister Tahseen Al-Askari, provided all necessary assistance during his stay.
- In June 1946, other activists joined Bourguiba in Cairo—Habib Thamer, Al-Tayeb Slim, and Rashid Idris—after escaping French pursuit from Berlin, where they had resided since 1943 via Madrid in 1945. This was possible with the help of the Iraqi Embassy, which secured their safe arrival in Egypt.
- On January 20, 1949, Youssef Al-Ruwaisi and Habib Thamer, head of the Constitutional Party, travelled to Iraq, met with Jamali, and requested Iraq’s diplomatic support as Tunisian-French negotiations had stalled.
- In 1951, Tunisia sought to present its case to the UN; Jamali pledged Iraq’s readiness to participate and declared that Iraq would be the first Arab country to represent the Tunisian cause before the Security Council.
- That same year, Jamali accompanied Tunisian delegates Saleh Ben Youssef and Mohammed Badra to meet UN General Assembly President Luis Padilla Nervo, urging him to press France to reconsider its colonial stance.
- In October 1952, Jamali held a lengthy meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson, discussing the liberation of North Africa, particularly Tunisia.
- Tunisia requested Iraq’s mediation with the United States to secure an entry visa for Saleh Ben Youssef; Jamali succeeded, and Youssef attended the UN General Assembly that year alongside Mohammed Badra and Al-Bahi Ladgham.
- On March 25, 1952, the Iraqi government contacted both the U.S. and British ambassadors in Baghdad to encourage support for Tunisian independence.
- During a UN session, Jamali brought Saleh Ben Youssef into the General Assembly hall and seated him with the Iraqi delegation—prompting French objections. Jamali formally included Ben Youssef and Mohammed Badra as advisory members of Iraq’s delegation and notified the UN Secretariat. Some historical sources indicate that Iraq even issued passports to Tunisian leaders so they could attend UN meetings under Iraqi representation.
- France repeatedly protested to Iraq; the French president even summoned the Iraqi ambassador in Paris, but Jamali stood firm, rejecting these pressures as violations of Iraq’s sovereignty. When France sent a cable objecting to Ben Youssef’s presence, Jamali replied that such delegation matters were internal sovereign decisions of each nation.
- On November 25, 1952, when French delegate Robert Schuman protested Tunisia’s inclusion on the UN agenda as an “unjust act,” Jamali firmly responded—accusing France of absolute despotism and defending Tunisia’s right to self-determination. He declared: “The Tunisian people are not terrorists—they are among the most peaceful and organised peoples of the world. It is France that has subjected them to repressive and arbitrary measures, forcing them to rise in self-defence.”
- Upon Jamali’s return to Iraq, the Foreign Minister embraced him, saying:“You have honored Iraq by insisting on including Saleh Ben Youssef in our delegation despite some governmental reservations.”
- Iraq’s bold diplomacy became an example to others: the Pakistani delegation, led by Mohammed Zafrullah Khan, included Ahmed Balafrej (Morocco) as an adviser; later, Iraq also included Abbas Farhat and Hussein Ayat Ahmed in its delegation during the Algerian case.
- A later Tunisian delegation visited Baghdad—including Mohammed Badra and Ali Al-Balhawan (Assistant Secretary-General of the Constitutional Party)—to seek Iraq’s continued support. Jamali convened the Afro-Asian bloc at the UN to discuss developments. Al-Balhawan, who later settled in Baghdad and taught philosophy with Jamali’s help, said: “Tunisia will never forget Iraq’s noble hands nor the support of its Foreign Minister Dr. Fadhil Jamali, whose brotherhood strengthened the bond between our nations.” In a 1953 letter from Baghdad to his comrade Al-Bahi Ladgham, Al-Balhawan wrote: “All of Iraq has risen for Tunisia’s cause. We’ve met the government, all parties, and associations, and the press is full of articles about our national struggle.”In another letter that year, he added: “I met His Excellency Fadhil Jamali, a true supporter of the Maghreb’s liberation causes. He reaffirmed his commitment to our struggle in Tunisia and Morocco.”
- In July 1954, Jamali visited Washington to raise the Tunisian issue with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles as part of Iraq’s diplomatic advocacy for independence movements.
- He also met President Eisenhower on the same visit, urging American pressure on France regarding Tunisia.
- Jamali also played a key role in the 1955 Bandung Conference, where he addressed the meeting as head of the Iraqi delegation, expressing hope that the ongoing Franco-Tunisian negotiations would fulfil the Tunisian people’s aspirations for independence.
- At the 1955 UN General Assembly, French Prime Minister Pierre Mendès-France delivered a speech promising Tunisian self-governance, claiming France supported national liberation. As he descended from the podium, he passed by Jamali and asked, “Are you satisfied with what I said about Tunisia?” Jamali replied, “And Morocco?” The Frenchman said, “Wait a little.” A year later, in 1956, both Morocco and Tunisia achieved independence.
These achievements led the
distinguished diplomat Chadli Klibi to write:
“Fadhil Jamali is one of the giants of our modern Arab history—one who
ascended, with merit, to the podium of history during his life, and whose
intellectual heartbeat endures even after his passing.” Furthermore, the late Tunisian Mufti Sheikh
Mohammed Al-Mukhtar Al-Salami also described Jamali’s humanity: “You soared in
your humanity, becoming a brother to all mankind and a supporter of the
oppressed. Through your contributions to the UN Charter, you defended with
unwavering faith the right of peoples to self-determination—ensuring it became
a principle of international law. Every liberated nation owes you remembrance.”
Indeed, we take pride in this great
Iraqi diplomat—a man who loved his homeland and its mission. Despite the
constraints of protocol and rigid diplomatic rules, his true measure of
belonging and his moral conviction guided his work and achievements.
Rare photo of the Tunisian President
Habib Bourguiba with Dr. Mohammed Fadhil Jamali in Tunisia after independence —
from the Jamali family archive, published for the first time.
The Iraqi UN
delegation led by Dr Jamali, including Tunisian Saleh Ben Youssef, 1952