Stop The killing of Mandaeans in Iraq

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