The Last Gnostics:The Last Gnostics:The War in Iraq and the Fate of The War in Iraq and the Fate of

the Mandaeansthe Mandaeans

Dr. Wisam BreegiDr. Wisam BreegiDr. Wisam BreegiDr. Wisam Breegi

MSHABA MAREY!MSHABA MAREY! PRAISED BE THE LORD!

MSHABA MAREY BLIBA DAKHYAMSHABA MAREY BLIBA DAKHYAPRAISED BE THE LORD WITH A TRUTHFUL HEART

BESHMEIHON ED HAIEE RABEEBESHMEIHON ED HAIEE RABEEIN THE NAME OF THE GREAT LIFE

ASOOTHEH-W-ZEKOOTHEH, HAILA-W-ESHRARA, IMRA-W-SHIMA, ASOOTHEH-W-ZEKOOTHEH, HAILA-W-ESHRARA, IMRA-W-SHIMA, HIDWAT LIBA, W-SHABIGH HADHAEEHIDWAT LIBA, W-SHABIGH HADHAEE

NAHWEELKHON W-NAHWEELEINAHWEELKHON W-NAHWEELEIHEALING, VINDICATION, HEALTH, SOUNDNESS,SPEAKING AND HEARING, JOY OF THE

HEART,BLESSING AND FORGIVENESS OF THE LORD BE UPON ALL OF YOU AND ME

AMENAMEN

Mandaeans: The last surviving Mandaeans: The last surviving GnosticsGnostics

The Mandaean community is of non-Arab The Mandaean community is of non-Arab descent and is an ethno-religious minoritydescent and is an ethno-religious minority

We are the only surviving Gnostics from Late We are the only surviving Gnostics from Late Antiquity and consider John the Baptist to be Antiquity and consider John the Baptist to be one of our great teachersone of our great teachers

Mandaeans have lived in Iraq and Iran for Mandaeans have lived in Iraq and Iran for almost two thousand years and constitute one almost two thousand years and constitute one of Iraq's smallest and most vulnerable of Iraq's smallest and most vulnerable minorities minorities

Embrace a pacifistEmbrace a pacifist doctrine and believe in peace above all else (NO self-defense)

Multiple-baptisms, purification of the soul and Multiple-baptisms, purification of the soul and knowledge are knowledge are its central ritualsits central rituals

Today’s Iraqi and Iranian Mandaeans are one related family (relatives)

Journey to ExileJourney to Exile

Community in ExileCommunity in Exile Mandaean texts contain only a handful of references, in a Mandaean texts contain only a handful of references, in a

guarded manner, to the history of the peopleguarded manner, to the history of the people Our long, tragic history of persecution and destruction Our long, tragic history of persecution and destruction

led to the loss of written historyled to the loss of written history For fear of reprisal and as a means of survival and to For fear of reprisal and as a means of survival and to

avoid more persecutionavoid more persecution As a result, today little information has been passed As a result, today little information has been passed

down about our historydown about our history What we do know includes:What we do know includes:

Post the fall of Jerusalem Post the fall of Jerusalem in the 1in the 1stst century, Mandaeans century, Mandaeans dispersed east and resettled in Mesopotamiadispersed east and resettled in Mesopotamia

One surviving text tell us a very dark story:One surviving text tell us a very dark story: The massacre and burning of their texts in 1782 The massacre of Muhamra, Iran in 1837, The massacre of Suk-Al-Shiuk, Iraq in1839, The genocide of Shushter, Dezful and Shawali in 1870,

which almost wiped out the Mandaeans

Blessings of the YardinaBlessings of the Yardina

A “Vulnerable Special Group”A “Vulnerable Special Group” Prior to the First Gulf War, there were ~60,000 Mandaeans in Iraq, Prior to the First Gulf War, there were ~60,000 Mandaeans in Iraq,

and ~12000 in Iranand ~12000 in Iran Today, fewer than 3,500 remain in the countryToday, fewer than 3,500 remain in the country More than 95% of the Mandaean community has fled Iraq in the More than 95% of the Mandaean community has fled Iraq in the

past few years, compared to only 10% of Iraqis as a whole.  past few years, compared to only 10% of Iraqis as a whole.  3,500-3,000 in Iraq3,500-3,000 in Iraq 15,000 in Europe and UK15,000 in Europe and UK 6,000 in Australia6,000 in Australia 5000 in USA5000 in USA 4000 in Canada4000 in Canada 3000-5000 in Iran3000-5000 in Iran

Estimates of Mandaean refugees:Estimates of Mandaean refugees: 3000 in Syria3000 in Syria 450 in Jordan450 in Jordan 300 individuals in other countries300 individuals in other countries

““The Mandaeans who carry no weapons, who will not The Mandaeans who carry no weapons, who will not kill, and have no social establishment to defend them, kill, and have no social establishment to defend them,

are the first and easiest targets”are the first and easiest targets” UNHCRUNHCR

504 killings*: 504 killings*: between 22 October 2003 - 17 May 2004 because between 22 October 2003 - 17 May 2004 because

of their religionof their religion

Of those killed, 90 percent were goldsmiths aged Of those killed, 90 percent were goldsmiths aged 18 to 6018 to 60

118 kidnappings*:118 kidnappings*: Between 9 February 2003 - 24 March 2006Between 9 February 2003 - 24 March 2006

139 threats*:139 threats*: Between 9 April 2004 to 12 April 2004 (to convert Between 9 April 2004 to 12 April 2004 (to convert

to Islam, or to leave their homes)to Islam, or to leave their homes)

Forced conversions*:Forced conversions*: In 2004, 35 Mandaean families underwent forced In 2004, 35 Mandaean families underwent forced

conversion in Fallujah alone.conversion in Fallujah alone.

* * Minority Rights Group report 2007Minority Rights Group report 2007

““Scattering of the Mandaeans in the past few years and Scattering of the Mandaeans in the past few years and the creation of micro-communities across the globe the creation of micro-communities across the globe

rather than in one central country poses an enormous rather than in one central country poses an enormous threat to their survival. In short, after surviving for two threat to their survival. In short, after surviving for two millennia in the cradle of civilization, the Mandaeans millennia in the cradle of civilization, the Mandaeans

are in danger of becoming extinct”are in danger of becoming extinct”Nathaniel Deutsch, NY Times, 10/6/07Nathaniel Deutsch, NY Times, 10/6/07

The mass exodus of Mandaeans has The mass exodus of Mandaeans has resulted from a relentless wave of resulted from a relentless wave of physical assaults, rapes, and murder, physical assaults, rapes, and murder, as well as religious persecution and as well as religious persecution and forced conversionforced conversion

Unlike any other religious minorities Unlike any other religious minorities in Iraq, Mandaeans are scattered and in Iraq, Mandaeans are scattered and do not have safe enclavedo not have safe enclave within Iraq, within Iraq, no tribal affiliations, nor any available no tribal affiliations, nor any available internal or external resourcesinternal or external resources

The threat of extinction! The threat of extinction!

““Scattering of Mandaeans in the past few Scattering of Mandaeans in the past few years and the creation of micro-years and the creation of micro-communities across the globe rather communities across the globe rather than in one central country poses an than in one central country poses an enormous threat to their survival. In enormous threat to their survival. In short, after surviving for two millennia in short, after surviving for two millennia in the cradle of civilization, the Mandaeans the cradle of civilization, the Mandaeans are in danger of becoming extinct”are in danger of becoming extinct”

Nathaniel Deutsch, NY Times, 10/6/07Nathaniel Deutsch, NY Times, 10/6/07

After the brutal killing of three priests, After the brutal killing of three priests, over 17 priests have fled Iraq; less than a over 17 priests have fled Iraq; less than a handful remain in Iraqhandful remain in Iraq

The Mandaean language, culture and The Mandaean language, culture and heritage is in danger of extinctionheritage is in danger of extinction

Worldwide Asylum Status Worldwide Asylum Status

Fleeing IraqFleeing Iraq

Stop this silent genocide!Stop this silent genocide!

Specific Desired OutcomesSpecific Desired Outcomes Priority 2 status [Priority 2 status [Priority 2 is reserved for groups of individuals of Priority 2 is reserved for groups of individuals of

special concern identified and selected by the U.S. government]special concern identified and selected by the U.S. government] Adopt immigration law to re-settle the Mandaeans as an endangered Adopt immigration law to re-settle the Mandaeans as an endangered

ethnic group in one area in the US.ethnic group in one area in the US. P2 status currently available only to Iranian MandaeansP2 status currently available only to Iranian Mandaeans

Expand P2 status for Mandaeans still in Iraq and refugees elsewhereExpand P2 status for Mandaeans still in Iraq and refugees elsewhere Establish an economic independence Establish an economic independence by provide them with by provide them with

short-term emergency relief as well as long-term programs to short-term emergency relief as well as long-term programs to sustain and protect their unique culture and traditions. Such sustain and protect their unique culture and traditions. Such program might include a business model that reflects their program might include a business model that reflects their handmade skills in traditional jewelry making, which may include handmade skills in traditional jewelry making, which may include a small museum as a tourist attraction a small museum as a tourist attraction

Partner with other organizations and NGOsPartner with other organizations and NGOs to create a to create a sustainable Mandaean community in the US by creating a sustainable Mandaean community in the US by creating a nucleus large enough for them to flourish. Ideally, this would nucleus large enough for them to flourish. Ideally, this would include cultural and worship center, as well as an academic include cultural and worship center, as well as an academic program for Mandaean studies that would explore and preserve program for Mandaean studies that would explore and preserve our ancient culture, traditions, and language our ancient culture, traditions, and language

Let us be the drops, that force Let us be the drops, that force their way through the dam of their way through the dam of

injusticeinjustice