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Iraq: Coat of Arms

On this page:

Present Coat of Arms
Past Coats of Arms

1959-1965
1965-1991
1991-ca. 2002

See also:

Index of All Iraq Pages

Present Coat of Arms, ca. 2002-

by Anonymous

I received from an anonymous contributor that "the name of the country is now 'Republic of Iraq,' in Arabic Jumhuriyyat al-Iraq, and not Al-Jumhuriya(t) al-Iraqiya(t). Saddam changed the name of Iraq in Arabic as it was feminine, but he wanted it to be masculine to depict strength!
Ivan Sache, 4 December 2002

Unfortunately, the difference in the wording is not between masculine and feminine but between "The Iraqi Republic" (purportedly the old name) and "Republic of Iraq" (purportedly the new name). The word "Iraq" was never feminine but the word jumhuriyat was and is. So I'm skeptical about the rationale given. Nevertheless, Saddam Hussein's presidential website, pointed out to me by Jim Ferrigan, does indeed give the name as Jumhuriyyat al-Iraq (Republic of Iraq).
Joe McMillan, 5 December 2002

Past Coats of Arms

Iraqi Coat of Arms, 1959-1965

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán

The coat of arms is made of a rising sun, charged with a ring that bears two scimitars.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 29 July 2000

Details

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán

At the top of the ring between the points of the scimitars there is the name of the country Al-Jumhuriyaht Al-Iraquiyaht (The Iraqi Republic)).
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 29 July 2000

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán

Between the scimitar handles, at the bottom of the ring, there is the date when the Republic was established, 14 July 1958 (14 Tamuz 1958)
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 29 July 2000

The coat of arms was introduced on 14 July 1959, exactly one year after the revolution, and was in use until 1965.
Ralf Stelter, 8 January 2001

Iraqi Coat of Arms, 1965-1991

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán

The coat of arms was introduced by a law signed on 2 July 1965 but backdated in article 14: "...shall be looked upon as being in force from 26 March 1965." The same law states that the old coat of arms and seals shall be used until new ones are delivered. Anyway, the bureau of the League of Arab States in Bonn confirmed the old coat of arms as still the official one in 1967!
Ralf Stelter, 8 January 2001

Iraqi Coat of Arms, 1991-ca. 2002

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascan

The current coat of arms is very similar to the 1965 coat of arms, except the central shield now depicts horizontal instead of vertical stripes and bears the Arabic text saying Allahu Akbar (God is almighty). Since the new Iraqi flag was adopted on January 13, 1991, it is probable the coat of arms was adopted on the same date, or at least during January. The eagle of Saladin is grasping a scroll saying Al-Jumhuriya(t) Al-Iraqiya(t) (The Iraqi Republic), the official country name in Arabic.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 8 January 2001