Mandaeans in Basra complain of marginalization

Ammar Al Saleh - Basra

The Sabean Mandaeans complain in the province of Basra (southern Iraq) of the absence of their role and decline, in a society dominated by the authority of religious parties, despite the belief among the followers of this religion that they are the oldest heavenly laws in Mesopotamia.

The Sabean Mandaeans are followers of an ancient non-missionary religion that originated in southern Iraq in the adjacent areas of rivers and marshes for the connection of water to their rituals. They are spread throughout most of Iraq's cities but are based in the southern provinces of Maysan and Basra.

The religious leader of the Mandaean sect in Basra, Sheikh Mazen Nayef, said minorities, especially his sect in Basra, were marginalized by the local government and did not have the most basic rights despite the repeated demand for justice.

Government absence
"We did not find serious interest and support from local government officials in Basra, where we feel today that we are strangers, despite our pride in our Iraqis and our refusal to emigrate outside the country," he said.

Nayef pointed out that efforts have been made to enable the Mandaeans to allocate a place on the banks of the Shatt al-Arab to practice their religious rituals, having been unable to do so in previous years.

He believes that the allocation of a seat for the Mandaean tribes in the local government of Basra contributes to overcoming this situation among members of his community.

The number of Sabean Mandaeans in Basra about four thousand people, after the migration of most of them out of the country in recent years as a result of being killed, kidnapping and extortion.

Social fusion
As for their coexistence in society, Inas Makki, who is interested in educating the members of her religious community, considered that the visual society is peaceful and receptive to the other and is bound by strong relationships.

She added that she did not notice discrimination in dealing with the environment, but she complains that there is no job opportunity for the children of her community, despite the fact that many of them received scientific degrees and competence.

She explained that the state of openness and communication in Basra helped others to get a closer look at the Sabean Mandaeans and know their religion.

It was agreed by the Karidi regime, the director of the Basra Saber Awakening, who finds that the cohesion and interaction of the members of the community together helps to overcome these conditions.

But he said that the general Iraqi people suffer from marginalization and the absence of the real role of government agencies in supporting the members of society.

Existential threat
The deputy head of the Ola Center for Human Rights Jawad al-Mariosh says that the minorities in Basra not only suffer from marginalization but are exposed to a conflict of my existence that emerged after the US occupation of Iraq in 2003.

In previous decades Mandaeans were said to have been silent in the social, cultural and intellectual life of Basra.

He believes that their absence was a burden on the city's economy as they were a major outlet in economic activity through the gold trade they had allocated.

The customs and traditions of the society imposed their influence on the economic life of the children of the Sabean religion and defined their activity in special occupations, especially the formulation of gold and silver, while absent from other commercial activities such as restaurant management or food shops to keep Muslims in dealing with them in these areas.

Basra provincial council member Hossam Hanoun Abu al-Hill says minorities in Basra enjoy their full rights and practice their personal and religious lives in great freedom and there is no differentiation between members of the sect.

It was stated that the absence of minorities from government positions in Basra is due to the existence of consensus between the blocs and political parties around the candidates of these positions, as well as the lack of minority employees compared to Muslims who hold these positions.