The Mandaean Human Rights Group is a self organized group dedicated for the help and protection of follow Mandaeans in Iraq and Iran given the situation in those two countries. The Human Rights Group watches, investigates and exposes human rights violations against Mandaeans. We have volunteers in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Europe and Iraq. Our model in our work is the United Nation's Human Rights Declaration of 1948. The MHRG is a non profit organization registered at Companies House, UK 6271157. It is a member of the Mandaean Associations Union.

Acknowledgment

We gratefully acknowledge the dedicated help and advice of many organizations, without which this work would not have been completed. Numbered among them for this edition are:The Mandaean Associations Union,The Spiritual Mandaean Council – Baghdad, Iraq,The Mandaean General Assembly – Baghdad, Iraq,The Mandaean Human Rights Association- Baghdad, Iraq,The Mandaean Society in Jordan,The Mandaean Society in Syria,The Mandaean Society in Australia, and the Scientific Mandaean Society in Iran.

Content:

Demography -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------P 4

Short History of the Sabian Mandaeans -----------------------------------------------P 4

Sabian Mandaeans after the fall of Saddam Hussain’s regime. ------------------P 6

The Mandaean refugees in the middle Countries, Syria and Jordan-----------P 9

What is the solution? -----------------------------------------------------------------------P 10

Conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P 12

Appendix:

Examples of Atrocities against the Sabian Mandaeans since 2003-------------P 13

List of the murdered Sabian Mandaeans---------------------------------------------- P 13

List of the kidnapped Sabian Mandaeans----------------------------------------------P 18

Threats and Assaults------------------------------------------------------------------------P 27

Rape----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P 34

Conversion to Islam by Force-------------------------------------------------------------P 35

Forced displacement from Al-Ramady Area to Syria--------------------------------P 36

Forced displacement from Al-Ramady Area to Jordan-----------------------------P 36

Other incidence ------------------------------------------------------------------------------P 37

Photo evidence of some of the victims------------------------------------------------P 39

The Sabian-Mandaean religion is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the Middle East. It is independent of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It follows the teachings of John the Baptist; baptism being its central ritual. Like most religions it emphasizes marriage, family, and peaceful coexistence with other groups. Mandaeans (Sabians or Sub’ba, in spoken Arabic) are the people who believe in this religion. One is born a Mandaean; the group accepts no converts. Well before the Islamic era and from early Christianity, Mandaeans have lived in Southern Iraq and Southern Iran. In Iraq, after WWI, they migrated to large cities such as Basra and Baghdad. Like Hebrews and Copts, Mandaeans are both a religious and ethnic minority they are part of an endogenous Aramaic people. The word Mandaean refers to their distinct Aramaic language, which is still spoken by Iranian Mandaeans. In Iraq on the other hand, the Mandaean language survives only in liturgy.

Demography

Although it is difficult to estimate, the Mandaeans are around sixty thousands at the present time. Their decreased numbers are due to continued persecution and forced mass conversions as well as relocation and assimilation. Currently, they live in large cities such as Baghdad, Umara and Basra; few remain in other Iraqi cities like Nasiriya and southern Iranian cities like Ahwaz. During the past decade, and especially the past three years, thousands have escaped Iraq and Iran, choosing self-exile and immigration over death and persecution. There are about 15,000 Mandaean in different parts of Europe, 1500 in the United States, 1000 in Canada and about 4000 in Australia. There is also a large refugee population in various other countries: 2100 families in Syria, 500 families in Jordan, 50 individuals in Yemen and smaller numbers in Thailand, Mali, Egypt, Lebanon and Libya.