The Mandaean Human Rights In Iraq Report- 2004

Prepared by The Mandaean Human Rights Group

In April of 2003, the Coalition forces intervened and removed one of the most atrocious tyrants that has been seen in the last century from leadership in Iraq . This dictatorship held an iron grip over all Iraqis and stained the recent history with terror and the blood of the innocent. The Mandaeans took their share of misery and pain in the suffering that occurred. Hundreds of their young men and women were either killed, vanished or were condemned to horrible tortures of unspeakable acts over the last forty years. The concept of freedom in that regime, especially religious freedom, was directly correlated with the personal favor demanded of Saddam Hussein and the bloody Baath regime. [1] The Mandaeans were no different; they suffered politically, economically, socially, and religiously from the persecution that has occurred against them. The Mandaeans have endured severe discrimination in employment, education, the legal system, forced military service, and social shunning has forced over 12,000 of the Mandaeans to flee from Iraq in the past ten years. This represents a major percentage of the total numbers of the Mandaeans in Iraq , making them the most affected minority. However, the Mandaeans plight was not only with this regime, but they have had to endure harsh social injustice for hundreds of years throughout their history. This includes, but not nearly limited to, persecution, discrimination, rape, torture, and even in many, many occasions mass murder or genocide by the hands of the zealous Muslims from both the Shiite and Sunni sects.

Demographics:

Islam is the religion of the majority in Iraq (about 97%). The rest are Christians, Mandaeans, Yazidis and few hundred members of the Jewish faith.

There is no exact census on the Mandaeans available at the current time, however, according to the best estimates 70,000 to 100,000 inhabit Iraq . They live mainly in Baghdad , Basra , Umara, Nasriha, Hilla, Kirkuk , Baquba and smaller numbers are found in practically all Iraqi cities. The Mandaeans have been present in the country since pre-Christian or before the Common Era.

Status and Human Rights conditions:

The Mandaeans are very thankful for the removal of Baath regime. Unfortunately, their plight did not end there. A new and very troubling situation is arising that may make them even more frightened than when they were under Saddam’s cruel claw. The recent surge in religious extremism, fight for power and control, lack of security and lawlessness have made Mandaean lives in some area of the country even worse. Information recently obtained from Iraq documents the following atrocities against the Mandaean people:

April 23, 2003 : At 11:00 am on Fadha’ Sadam Hummadi Obaid was murdered publicly in front of a large crowd. He had asked for asylum according to the tribal customs, which ensure the full protection for the one who asks any tribe for asylum. The man was not offered any asylum and was told that as a Mandaean, he is not eligible for any asylum.

May 2003: The murder of Sabih Shibib Elbab in his house in “New Baghdad” city, followed by the theft of his jewelry and money.

May 2003: The kidnapping of (name removed for Confidentiality) daughter of the reporter of the Mandaean sect.

May 2003: The arson of the alcohol brewery and theft of Salam Ajil Shahir ’s automobile in Baquba city.

May 7, 2003: The Mandaean community was shocked by the brutal attack on (name removed for Confidentiality) his pregnant wife and their four children ages 10, 7, 4, and 2 in their house in Sidiah Baddad which ended them in the hospital for several days.

May 15, 2003 : Hassani Rahim Al Othmani , accused of practicing ‘Magic’, was murdered by gunman in Sowerah.

The deliberate act of torching (arson) of a house and personal property in Hawijah (Kerkuk province). This act of arson consummated in the murder of a handicapped 23-year-old Mandaean girl who was unable to flee the house.

April through June of 2003 saw the destruction of homes and businesses with explosives in Kut / Sowerah city.

• Haitham Faiqe Al Othmani April, 20,2003
• Raad Mutar Falih Al Othmani June, 13,2003
• Ehsan Faiqe Al Othmani June, 15,2003
• Qaise Tua’mah Al Othmani June, 20,2003
• Abdullah Menkhi Al Chohaili June, 20,2003

June, 10, 2003 : The residences of Fadhel Muhannawi Al Kuhaily and Kamil Gonfuth Al Kuhaili were both damaged severely in two separate grenade attacks upon their homes.

In Sowerah, a Mandaean girl named (name removed for Confidentiality) survived an attempt of rape.

At 11:45 p.m. , a bomb was detonated at the house of(name removed for Confidentiality)in Kadessia City ( Meesan Province ). When the bomb failed to do the expected damage, subsequent machine gun fire riddled the house, destroying it.

(name removed for Confidentiality) was assaulted by gunshots in Sowerah.

June 26, 2003 :(name removed for Confidentiality) was assaulted by mobs accusing him of practicing ‘Magic’ and was promptly executed by gunshot in Sowerah.

(name removed for Confidentiality) suffered gunfire and smashing of glass of their store while they were inside it. This act was committed by unknown person(s). The excuse given for the assault was ‘the selling of alcoholic drinks’.

An armed assault with an attempt to murder was directed at both {Shaikh} Karim Selman Uraibi and his brother Talib for being Mandaean priests.

Threats of death were sent to (name removed for Confidentiality) and her 7-year-old daughter unless she converted to Islam. This action forced the woman to escape with her daughter out of the area. This happened in Baghdad , Thawrah City , sector 31.

Six Mandaean jewelry stores were damaged by gunfire on a single night in Thawra City . The original intent was to kill the owners. The following statement was written on one of the six stores: “Your day is coming sobba!” Sobba (Sobi) is a name used quite frequently by the local Muslims instead of the term Mandaean.

Attaching of leaflets in the jewelry shopping center of Al Jamhuria City in Basra in which the Mandaeans are accused of Magic and fornication, then threatened with severe punishment soon.

Harassment of the Mandaeans in city of Falloujah and forcefully converting them to Islam.

The threatening of (name removed for Confidentiality)in their jewelry store in Baghdad - Habibia city by the use of grenades in public (in front of crowds) and demanding tribute in order to cease their assaults.

(name removed for Confidentiality) received a handwritten threat that included the following statement “Hay[sic] you Sobi, You either pay one Million Iraqi Dinar or we kidnap your three daughters.” Again, Sobi is another word for Mandaean.

Many of young Mandaean men were forced to shave their beards because they have been subjected to many attacks and death threats. The excuse for this persecution was suspecting them of being wahabi (a Moslem Sunni sect). This excuse was a fabrication used to commit xenophobic violence since the victims were known to be Mandaeans.

July, 02, 2003 : (name removed for Confidentiality), age 29, was kidnapped in the city of Bagdad , Al shurta 5th. No signs of her, living or dead has yet been uncovered.

July 7, 2003 : An armed robbery and physical assault in front of dozens of witnesses. These acts were combined with the use of ethnic and religious slurs used against (name removed for Confidentiality), who is a jeweler near a mosque.

July 11, 2003 : The murder of Muhannad Abdul Suhib Al Maanawi and stealing his car in Baghdad

The kidnapping of (name removed for Confidentiality) in Basrah. The kidnappers demanded his family to pay a ransom of $50,000.00. He was released with the help of the British forces. No sooner had the boy been returned home, the kidnappers terrorized the family again this time with messages that all ‘Sobba’ (Mandaeans) should die.

Many independent sources have documented and confirmed the deteriorating conditions of minorities in different parts of Iraq . From “The Institute of Religion and Democracy” ( October 29th, 2003 ):

“Militant Muslims continue to target Christians and Mandaeans (followers of John the Baptist) in sectarian killings, rapes and kidnappings in Iraq . On 20 October, Danny Isaac and William Cesar , both Assyrian Christians, were shot to death in front of their houses in Al Khardia . In mid October, a group of Muslim men kidnapped (name removed for Confidentiality) (25y), a Mandaean woman who works in a hospital in Baghdad . Her whereabouts is unknown. Just days ago, Satar Razi Zaboun , a Mandaean man aged about 50, was shot in Baghdad . These are only the tip of the iceberg. The situation in Iraq is most concerning and particularly dangerous for Christians and Mandaeans. They are very vulnerable as they can be robbed, raped and murdered with impunity. Please pray for God's intervention, and for their protection and deliverance from evil.”

In a recent publication titled “The Democracy Watch Report #1” the following is noted:

“Religious zealots have imposed other restrictions. Attacks on Christian-owned shops that sell alcohol are common, and some have been burned down. Some groups have also distributed leaflets against shopkeepers who sell CDs and videos, and ordered a ban on the sale of any but religious recordings. The Mandaeans, a religious minority that has lived peacefully in southern Iraq since ancient times, has also been vilified and condemned as satanic. Such intimidation and threats pose a serious threat to individual liberties, and in the absence of protective laws or consequences, they are likely to escalate.”

According to Dr. Edward Crangle from the Department of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney :

“…since the demise of the recent Iraqi regime, many Sabian[sic] Mandaeans have been murdered by various extremist Muslim groups and tribes, including the extremely fundamentalist religious Sunni and Shi'a[sic] groups.” [5]

Recently in Basra a distribution of leaflets, in Al-Tanuma Square , calling on Sunnis, Christians and Mandaeans to leave the city ( Basra ) has been reported. [6] Several of the Mandaean families have started to flee Basra along with thousands of Christian families heading to safer areas.

The leadership in Iraq has met with representative of the Coalition forces, the Iraqi Governing Council and representatives of different political and religious groups there. They have presented their requests for religious freedom and social justice for their people in a free and democratic Iraq . However, as politics unfold in Iraq , the Mandaeans do not trust the future as the Coalition or the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) has promised. This, combined with the recent decree (number 137, dated December 29, 2003) which canceled the fifty year old ‘Personal Affairs Law’ and returned all personal matters to the Islamic Law known as Sharia. This concerns the Mandaeans in Iraq greatly that the promises made to them may not become true for their future.

Mandaean Refugees outside Iraq

Mandaeans in Indonesia

About 230 Mandaeans have escaped Iraq to Indonesia looking for safe refuge in the last four years. They are denied any form of religious freedom in that Muslim country. Some have been accepted by the UNHCR and some have been rejected and waiting for their cases to be reviewed with more recognition of their plight. They can not return to Iraq because of the situation there and can not stay in Indonesia for similar reasons.

Mandaeans in Yemen and the Gulf countries.

Conversion, denial of jobs or apartment rentals, intimidation are very common forms of discrimination the Mandaeans faced daily in Yemen and other Gulf countries where any non-Muslim is an infidel who should convert or suffer the consequences. There are more than eighty Mandaeans in Yemen ; many are still waiting UNHRC approval. All are in need for resettlement. However none of the countries that accept resettlement have looked into their case seriously and they are kept to face their fate with no solution in sight

Mandaeans in Australia

Fifty-two Mandaean men, women and children, mostly from Iran , have been living in a prison like environment for more than 3 long years. Their ‘crime’ is they entered Australia through boats from Indonesia looking for a safe haven and protection from the Islamic dictatorship in Iran . The Australian government in trying to stop the illegal immigration to that country has placed them in detention centers and has refused them asylum. The Mandaeans have been persecuted by Moslem refugees in these detention centers while being denied the basic human rights especially for the children in the areas of proper nutrition, education, physical and psychological growth, and social adjustment. There are plans between the Australian government and the Iranians to take them back to Iran , which means a definite execution or jail time in Iran.

Conclusion

The Mandaeans have lived in Iraq and Iran for thousands of years. They have tolerated all kinds of persecution and mistreatment and learned how to deal with them. However, what they are facing now is a real threat for their own existence. The UNHCR, the International Community, the Coalition Forces, and The Iraqi Governing Council must evaluate and conclude that the cumulative persecution of the Mandaean people as a whole is a serious matter and that support must be generated to ensure their very survival. It is recommended that the following be implemented:

During the formation of a new Iraq emphasis to stop to all religious persecution and social discrimination be enacted and a motion set into place where a protective shield will exist for the minorities in regards to social, legal, educational or political aspects.

• Full legal recognition and constitutional protection in the future Iraq .
• Full control of Mandaean internal religious affairs with no outside interference.
• Prohibit by law the conversion of any Mandaean to another religion without his consent. This law should cover minors until they reach 18 years.
• In a divorce case the custody of children as a result of an inter-religious marriage should be awarded to a parent based on financial, emotional, psychological needs rather than the custom of the child going to the Muslim parent regardless of the situation.
• Assistance in acquiring available financial aid needed for the various Mandaean Community establishments. In Iraq this aid is needed most urgently for education and basic human needs. There is also a need to ensure the continued existence of the Mandaean people as important sector of human culture and heritage.
• Full refugee status for all the Mandaeans refugees especially those in Australia , Indonesia and Yemen with fast and proper resettlement. For those Mandaeans who have lost all hopes to live in a free society, aid must be available for those who are forced to return to Iraq .
• Stop the deportation of any Mandaean from Australia to Iran . As they will face death or severe persecution if they are forced to go back.
• Assistance in securing finical and material aid for the Mandaean Communities in the Diaspora like USA , Canada , Europe and Australia to preserve their language, culture, heritage and religion, or this religion will be extinct in the next few years after surviving for more than three thousand years. Aid will also be need for refugees for education, second language skills, and social adjustments.
• The approval by law of the return of forced converted ‘Muslims’ back to their original religion of Mandaeism without fear of death or repatriation by the Muslim community.
• Prohibit the drafting of Mandaeans in the army as armed combatants. The carrying of weapons is in direct violation of Mandaean religious laws, which prohibit the killing of any human being or the carrying of guns.