Arab Federation of Jordan and Iraq

February 14, 1958 – August 2, 1958

Last modified: 2020-08-02 by ian macdonald
Keywords: jordan | transjordan | federation | iraq | historical | triangle: hoist (red) | arab | hashemite |
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image by Željko Heimer

• Description

• Jordan
• Iraq
• British Mandate of Palestine and Transjordan, 1916-1923
• Kingdom of Iraq, 1924-1958
• Other Arab Supranational Entities:
  • United Arab Republic, 1958-1961
  • Federation of South Arabia, 1959-1967 (later South Yemen)
  • United Arab Emirates, 1971-
  • Federation of Arab Republics, 1972-1977
• Pan-Arab Colours

I came across reference to an "Arab Union" between Jordan and Iraq which apparently lasted from February - July 1958. However, Article 7a of the Constitution of this Jordan-Iraq Union, dated 14 February 1958, mentions a flag, and reads as follows:

ARTICLE 7a

The flag of the Union shall be in the following style and dimensions:
The length of the flag shall be twice its width, and shall be divided into three equal and parallel stripes the upper of which shall be black, the middle white and the lower green.
The flag shall wear a red equilateral triangle next to the mast, and the base of this triangle shall be equal to the width of the flag.

I have no idea whether this flag was every actually used, or indeed, whether the Union became a reality (even for the short period given above).
Christopher Southworth, 03 Nov 2003

Page 44 of "The National Flags of the World," written by Hideo Tanino in April 1959 and published in Tokyo, mentions Article 7a of the Constitution of the Arab Union, promulgated on March 19th 1958, and shows the flag picture.
Article 7c mentions that both Iraq and Jordan can continue to use their national flags together with the Arab Union flag. The Union flag seems to have been in use between February 14 1958 (establishment of the Arab Union) and July 14 1958 (Iraqi Revolution).
Nozomi Kariyasu, 06 Nov 2003

The flag is identical to one supposedly used by Iraq between 1920-1924.
Eugene Ipavec, 27 May 2007