Information
- Category:
- Organizations - Advocacy Organizations
- Description:
- This group exists to bring awareness to the plight of the Mandaeans of Iraq. They are a peace-loving people who have lived in Iraq, formerly Mesopotamia, for thousands of years. Since the toppling of the Hussein regime, they have come under serious persecution and attack in their home country. Many of them have been forced to flee the country to avoid forced conversion, torture, and even death.
We are seeking involvement from student groups, NGO's, governments, and anyone willing to make a... (read more) - Privacy Type:
- Open: All content is public.
Officers
- Rania
- Mandaean Crisis International
- Nicole
- York University Mandaean Crisis International
- Andrew
- Dalhousie Mandaean Crisis International
- Kirk
- Saint Mary's University Mandaean Crisis International
- Marwa
- Cambridge University Mandaean Crisis International
- Michael
- McGill Mandaean Crisis International
- Araz
- Manchester Mandaean Crisis International
Mandaean Crisis International
JoinBasic Info
- Name:
- Mandaean Crisis International
- Category:
- Organizations - Advocacy Organizations
- Description:
- This group exists to bring awareness to the plight of the Mandaeans of Iraq. They are a peace-loving people who have lived in Iraq, formerly Mesopotamia, for thousands of years. Since the toppling of the Hussein regime, they have come under serious persecution and attack in their home country. Many of them have been forced to flee the country to avoid forced conversion, torture, and even death.
We are seeking involvement from student groups, NGO's, governments, and anyone willing to make a... (read more) - Privacy Type:
- Open: All content is public.
Contact Info
- Email:
- Website:
- http://www.mandaeanunion.org/
Recent News
- News:
- OCTOBER 2009
The Mandaean Associations Union
21 September 2009
For How long will the international community watch before it Acts to stop the genocide of the Mandaeans in Iraq
Another heinous crime against the Mandaeans of Iraq was committed on Saturday 19th of September 2009. This time is in Basra, Iraq. Two Young goldsmiths, Mr Farqad Faiq Authman and Mr. Muhand Qasim Abdul-Razzaq both in their twenties were massacred by four unmasked gun men using silenced guns and knives. After several bullets in their heads they were knifed down and left to die in their shops. The gunmen looted the shops and escaped. This happened in the early-morning hours in
a crowded market and no one stood up to help them.
This is the most recent crime in the series of crimes against the Mandaeans in Iraq that happened in the last few months. The previous killing on the 2nd of September of Abdul Wahid AlBender and his
family in their home in Baghdad Aljedida by armed men resulting in the killing of this elderly gentleman and the injuries of his wife .When his sons tried to defend themselves they are the ones that are arrested .Other recent incidents were the killing of Mr. We ‘am Abdul Nabi Lazem on the 6th of August in his shop in Iskan district of Baghdad. In the same way as the killing of three gold smith in Tobchi area few months ago and the killing of three goldsmiths and a child of 8years old before
that in Shaib area. All professionally executed in busy shopping areas with security presence. The Mandaeans are minority community that lived in Iraq for thousands of years. Out of a community of 50,000-60,000 before 2003 less than 5,000 remain inside Iraq. 85% of the community are either refugees or are seeking refuge and are mainly in Syria and Jordan as a result of targeted and sustained extreme religious hatred and violence.
We ask of you to act to stop this genocide against one of the oldest monotheistic communities in the Middle East. Their only crime is they are different in religion and ethnicity. We ask of the international community to stand up and force the Iraqi government to act to provide security and safety to the Iraqi minorities we the undersigned condemn these serious crimes and demand the
following:
• That the IRAQI Government act immediately to stop the genocide against the Mandaeans
and find the criminals and the organizations behind them and bring justice to the victims.
• That the Iraqi government instates a system of protection for the Mandaeans and Other Minorities in Iraq by establishing the minorities’ Security Council.
• That the international community intervenes to secure the rights of ethnic and religious minorities according to the UN and international laws.
• That the United States, Australia or the European Union should act immediately to accept the 1000 Mandaean refugee families in Syria collectively without delay and resettle them
in one place to prevent the demise of this small peaceful community .
• The International community should take serious and active steps to stop the destruction of Mandaean people and their culture and find a durable solution to their desperate situation.
The Mandaeans are in danger of extinction in their home land. The international community must stand up and save the Mandaeans of Iraq. We ask you all to help stop these atrocities and to bring peace and security to The Iraqi Mandaeans.
The Mandaean Associations Union
The Mandaean Human Rights Group
Mandaean Crisis International
AUGUST 2009
On Thursday 6th of august 2009, another Mandaean goldsmith (Mr. Weam Abdul-Nabi Lazim) massacred by gunmen in his jewellery shop in Iskan district in Baghdad Iraq. The witnessed killing which happened in midmorning was professionally executed using pistols with silencers and took place in a closed pedestrian busy shopping centre with security controlled entrances and exits . The same way that was used few months ago when they killed three goldsmiths in Tobchi area , Baghdad . and the killing of three goldsmiths with their 8 years son in Shaab area Baghdad few weeks before that. This is in addition to the continuous kidnapping and rape of other Mandaean women children and men with inadequate response from the police and Iraqi government, despite the attentions brought to them by the Mandaean Human Right Group directly and via the U.N human rights apparatus.
Including the above noted crimes, the recorded incidents against Mandaeans since 2003 stand at 167 killings, 275 kidnappings, and 298 assaults and forced conversion to Islam. Some include more than one member of a family.
The Mandaean Supreme Council in Iraq has tried several times to bring to the attention of the Iraqi government that the Mandaeans as well as other minorities are continuously targeted and attacked, however their cries have been in vain and no true actions have been taken.
Out of a community of 50,000-60,000 in Iraq before 2003 only 5,000 remain. 85% of our community are either refugees or are seeking refuge, and are mainly in Syria and Jordan.
Mandaeans have not benefited from the recent supposed improvement in security. The killings, kidnappings, attacks, looting, and demands for ransom are continuing, while the refugees, after years 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 all other atrocities against the Mandaeans;
2. That the Iraqi government act immediately to find the criminals, expose the organizations behind these crimes, and bring justice to the victims;
3. That the Iraqi Government act to establish the Minorities Security Council under international observation which instates a system of protection for Mandaeans and all other Iraqi religious and ethnic minorities;
4. That the international community intervene according to international law and the United Nations Charter, to protect and secure the rights of the ethnic , religious and linguistics minorities as well as the other indigenous peoples of Iraq. In particular we ask the international community to take immediate steps to stop the destruction of the Mandaean people and their culture, as well as find a collective durable solution to their desperate situation.
5 That the UNHCR help in saving the Mandaeans and their community by resettling their refugees in one country only until they can return to their homeland.
6. The international community ought to act now to analyse seriously the Mandaean rights for self determination and their full rights as indigenous people of Iraq.
The Mandaeans as a people are in danger of extinction in their own homeland. They call out for your help. The international community must stand up and save the Mandaeans of Iraq. We ask you all to help us stop these grave atrocities and to bring peace and security to all native peoples of Iraq.
The Mandaean Associations Union
The Mandaean Human Rights Group
Mandaean Crisis International
APRIL 2009
20/04/09
Save the Mandaeans of Iraq
On Sunday the 19th of April 2009, three Mandaean jewellers were massacred by gunmen in their jewellery shops in the Altobechi area in Baghdad Iraq. This occurred 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 of three Mandaeans in their family’s store in a busy market in the Al-Sha'ab district of Baghdad. In this incident, which occurred on the 8th of September 2008, an 8 year old boy, along with his father and uncle were slaughtered together; each had several bullets in his head. Many children have been kidnapped and many women raped with inadequate response from the police and Iraqi government.
Including the above noted crimes, the recorded incidents against Mandaeans since 2003 stand at 167 killings, 275 kidnappings, and 298 assaults and forced conversion to Islam. Some include more than one member of a family.
The Mandaean Supreme Council in Iraq has tried several times to bring to the attention of the Iraqi government that the Mandaeans as well as other minorities are continuously targeted and attacked, however their cries have been in vain and no true 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 Syria and Jordan.
Mandaeans, like other religious minorities in Iraq, have not benefited from the recent supposed improvement in security. The killings, kidnappings, attacks, looting, and demands for ransom are continuing at an alarming rate, while the refugees, after years 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 all other atrocities against the Mandaeans;
2. that the Iraqi government act immediately to find the criminals, expose the organizations behind these crimes, and bring justice to the victims;
3. that the Iraqi Government act to establish the Minorities Security Council under international observation which instates a system of protection for Mandaeans and all other Iraqi religious and ethnic minorities;
4. that the international community intervene according to international law and the United Nations Charter, to protect and secure the rights of the ethnic and religious minorities as well as the other indigenous peoples of Iraq. In particular we ask the international community to take immediate steps to stop the destruction of the Mandaean people and their culture, as well as find a collective durable solution to their desperate situation.
The Mandaeans as a people are in danger of extinction in their own homeland. They call out for your help. The international community must stand up and save the Mandaeans of Iraq. We ask you all to help us stop these grave atrocities and to bring peace and security to all native peoples of Iraq.
The Mandaean Associations Union
The Mandaean Human Rights Group
The Mandaean Crisis International
APRIL 2008
MANDAEAN CRISIS INTERNATIONAL DENOUNCES THE KILLING OF TEN MANDAEAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
On the 26th of March 2008, in the city of Kut in Iraq, a missile attack took place on a house inhabited by two Mandaean families causing the destruction of the house and the death of nine women and children and one young man. Another young man remains seriously injured at a local hospital. Immediately after the attack, the house was looted of its contents by armed men. The source and immediate cause of the missile attack on the innocent families are unknown. Moreover, their death certificates inconsistently show different causes of death.The houses next door were not affected by the effect of the missile.
The two families were among the only forty remaining Mandaean families in Kut. One family was known to have been internally displaced already from another region of Iraq. The two families recently received death threats ordering them to leave Kut to ‘join the refugees’ and the Mandaean elders who were in the process of arranging their passage out of Kut.
This attack is extremely disturbing to the Mandaean community, coming as a continuation of sustained and systematic attacks, forced displacement, religious conversions, and targeted rapes and kidnappings. Eighty percent of the Iraqi Mandaean community currently live as refugees in neighbouring countries, with only 4,000 remaining in Iraq consisting of the most poor and disadvantaged of the community. Under such present hostile conditions, Mandaeans fear that they have no long-term hope of survival as a religious and social community in the Middle East.
Mandaean Crisis International denounces the murders and asks for:
1. An investigation into the missile attack to be conducted both by the Iraqi and US governments. The Iraqi government must bring the perpetrators to justice. Compensation must be paid to survivors and the families of those killed.
2. The immediate protection and mobilisation of remaining of the two Mandaean families in Kut to an agreed upon safe area of refuge.
3. The Iraqi government and U.S. government’s taking immediate and effective steps to protect Mandaeans in Iraq, including their heritage and properties.
4. The UNHCR and the U.S. government’s assistance to Mandaean refugees residing outside of Iraq.
5. The UN and international community’s commencement of the process of protecting Mandaeans according to UN articles concerning the protection of religious, ethnic, and linguistic minorities together with the article for the protection of indigenous people. Articles relating to genocide must also be considered in light of the systematic targeting of Mandaeans across areas of Iraq.
THE MANDAEAN CRISIS INTERNATIONAL
MARCH 2008
Hi all,
The petition is still a major focus right now. Please sign it, and ask others to do the same. If their is any news it will be posted. Thanks to everyone who is helping.
Shortcut to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/assistance-to-the-mandaean-community-of-iraq#signature
SEPTEMBER 2007:
WE HAVE POSTED TWO NEW LETTER TEMPLATES DIRECTED AT LOBBYING THE U.S GOVERNMENT. YOU CAN FIND THEM OFF OUR WEBSITE OR OUR DISCUSSION BOARD ON THIS GROUP.
If you haven't had an opportunity to read the recent MHRG Report on the Mandaean Situation you can find it here:
http://www.mandaeanunion.net/HMRG/Sabian%20Mandaeans%20in%20Iraq%20Face%20Annihilation_2007%20MHRG%20report.pdf
We have added a letter to lobby the UNHCR to grant full refugee status to Mandaeans escaping Iraq. You can print the letter off and sign your name, and mail it to the UNHCR. That would help the Mandaeans greatly! You can find your national UNHCR contact off their website www.unhcr.org
We are slowly but surely building up a list of people who are willing to give part of themselves to this worthy cause. We cannot sit by and see yet another people group put to death for no reason at all.
We will be giving further instruction on how you can help in the near future. Thank you so much for your interest.
For any information you can contact:
Kurt Goddard - kurtgoddard@hotmail.com
Matt Maston - mastradomus@hotmail.com
Adam O'Brien - adamo83@gmail.com