The Mandaean Associations Union20/04/09

Save the Mandaeans of Iraq

On Sunday the 19thof April 2009, three Mandaean jewellers were massacred bygunmen in their jewellery shops in the Altobechi area in Baghdad Iraq. Thisoccurred during the mid-morning hours. The assailants used pistols with silencers.Three others were badly injured in this attack and are still in serious condition.This is a continuation of ongoing attacks against Mandaeans, including the killing ofthree Mandaeans in their family’s store in a busy market in the Al-Sha'ab district ofBaghdad. In this incident, which occurred on the 8th of September 2008, an 8 yearold boy, along with his father and uncle were slaughtered together; each had severalbullets in his head. Many children have been kidnapped and many women rapedwith inadequate response from the police and Iraqi government.Including the above noted crimes, the recorded incidents against Mandaeans since2003 stand at 167 killings, 275 kidnappings, and 298 assaults and forced conversionto Islam. Some include more than one member of a family.The Mandaean Supreme Council in Iraq has tried several times to bring to theattention of the Iraqi government that the Mandaeans as well as other minorities arecontinuously targeted and attacked, however their cries have been in vain and notrue actions have been taken.Out of a community of 60,000-70,000 in Iraq before 2003 only 5,000 remain. 85%of our community are either refugees or are seeking refuge, and are mainly in Syriaand Jordan.Mandaeans, like other religious minorities in Iraq, have not benefited from therecent supposed improvement in security. The killings, kidnappings, attacks, looting,and demands for ransom are continuing at an alarming rate, while the refugees, afteryears of living in the harshest of conditions, are still in limbo.We, the undersigned, condemn these serious crimes, and demand the following:1. that an independent investigation be undertaken urgently to look into these and allother atrocities against the Mandaeans;2. that the Iraqi government act immediately to find the criminals, expose theorganizations behind these crimes, and bring justice to the victims;

3. that the Iraqi Government act to establish the Minorities Security Council underinternational observation which instates a system of protection for Mandaeans andall other Iraqi religious and ethnic minorities;4. that the international community intervene according to international law and theUnited Nations Charter, to protect and secure the rights of the ethnic and religiousminorities as well as the other indigenous peoples of Iraq. In particular we ask theinternational community to take immediate steps to stop the destruction of theMandaean people and their culture, as well as find a collective durable solution totheir desperate situation.The Mandaeans as a people are in danger of extinction in their own homeland. Theycall out for your help. The international community must stand up and save theMandaeans of Iraq. We ask you all to help us stop these grave atrocities and to bringpeace and security to all native peoples of Iraq.