Religious minorities in Iraq face serious attacks from time to time, sometimes taking the direct form, and sometimes indirectly, which exposes their historical presence in their cities to danger, prompting them to make the decision to leave the country on many occasions. In addition to the danger of terrorist organizations that threatens all without exception, outlaw armed groups are also active, targeting minorities for material motives to seize their property.
The “Mendi” temple of the Sabian-Mandaean sect in Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq (400 km south of Baghdad), was subjected to an armed attack that caused the injury of two of the guards assigned to guard the building, which raised the alarm bell among the religious leadership of this sect, especially since the followers of the ancient Mesopotamian religion are stationed. For thousands of years in the cities of southern Iraq, they have been characterized by tolerance and peace with everyone, and their presence constitutes an important element in the religious and sectarian diversity in Iraq.
The leader of the Mandaean religion in Iraq and the world, Sheikh Sattar Al-Helu, said during an interview with “Al Aalem Al Jadeed” that “this targeting is the second in Maysan, and it is an act condemned and reprehensible by us and by everyone, and we do not know who carried it out, what its goal is, or its purpose; especially since we are a peaceful sect that loves everyone and coexists with them, and our hand is extended in peace to all.”
He added, “I received calls from the governor of Maysan and senior officials in the Ministry of Interior who were directed to take the necessary measures to protect minorities and preserve them from any harm. Such events are an attempt to incite sectarian strife among segments of Iraqi society.”
Sheikh Al-Hilu expresses his fears that “these threats are attempts to push the people of the religion to emigrate, but no matter how much the enemies of the homeland try to intimidate or remove the people of the Sabian religion, this is impossible. Our homeland, Iraq, is dear to us, and we will defend it and protect it with our lives.”
The number of followers of the Mandaean religion in Iraq decreased to between 15,000 and 20,000 people due to their migration, after their number had reached about 75,000 people, according to a previous statement by Sheikh Sattar Al-Hilu, and many of them were displaced to areas such as Kirkuk, Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah, while the other section took refuge outside Iraq.
Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, during a press conference held in Dhi Qar Governorate, the Al Aalem Al Jadeed correspondent asked a question about the measures taken regarding the incident, what were the motives, and whether the perpetrators had been identified. The minister responded, “This matter has been opened and an investigation is being continued with the Maysan Police Chief to find out the circumstances of the incident.”
In turn, the Maysan Police Command issued an explanatory statement, in which it stated that a specialized security team was harnessed with technical and intelligence efforts to find out the circumstances of the accident, identify those who were negligent, and apply the necessary procedures against them, and that the two injured were transferred to the hospital to receive treatment.
For his part, the researcher in Sabian affairs, Hussein Al-Amel, said during an interview with Al Aalem Al Jadeed that “attempts to target religious minorities are always veiled messages, the purpose of which is material ambitions, or an attempt to seize their property, as happened to members of the Christian religion, or to blackmail them for financial purposes, or because of disagreements.”
The worker points out, “All of these problems show the weakness of the law and the lack of weapons, which is the leading element on the scene and poses a danger to everyone, not just minorities.”
The Mandaean religion is one of the ancient monotheistic religions, and their prophet is Yahya bin Zakariya. Their language is Aramaic, which dates to the tenth century BC, and it is the same language used in their holy book, “Al Kanza Riba.”
Southern Iraq is considered the first homeland for the members of the sect for thousands of years, and their greatest numerical weight is found in the governorates of Maysan, Dhi Qar, and Basra, where marshes are widespread, and rivers abound in the three governorates. They are also spread in the capital, Baghdad, the other southern, central, and northern governorates, and the Kurdistan region.
In addition, political affairs researcher Salah Al-Moussawi explained, during an interview with Al Aalem Al Jadeed, that “the security incident that occurred in Maysan and the targeting of the religious minority clearly indicates the level of security instability in this city.”
Al-Moussawi warns that “minorities do not have an impact on the political process or any other calculations, especially since they are peaceful, but the targeting incident may have been subject to economic calculations.”
After 2003, the people of the religion in Iraq faced many challenges that threatened their survival as one of the most prominent religious minorities in Mesopotamia, including murder and robbery, because they worked in goldsmithing, which exposed them to direct and continuous theft and kidnapping, and this matter led to an almost mass migration towards the West.
