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distributed to homes in Baghdad gave the following warning to both Sabaean-Mandaeans
and Christians:
“Either you embrace Islam and enjoy safety and coexist amongst us, or leave our land and
stop toying with our principles. Otherwise, the sword will be the judge between belief and
blasphemy.” 338
UNHCR received copies of threat letters against individual Sabaean-Mandaeans as well as
the community as such, calling them to leave “idolatry and polytheism” and threatening
them to have their “heads cut” otherwise. In another letter received by UNHCR, Sabaean-
Mandaeans were called upon to return to their homelands in “Persia”, accusing them of
practicing “prostitution, homosexuality, magic” and permitting “drinking of wine”. 339 Other
leaflets accuse Sabaean-Mandaeans of being drunkards, gamblers, idolaters, prostitutes and
practitioners of black magic. 340 The Society for Threatened People reported on 20 June
2006 that Islamist groups have issued a “last warning” to the Sabaean-Mandaean
community in Iraq, saying that if they do not convert to Islam, they must face death. It
further calls Mandaean women “prostitutes”, accuses them of practising “black magic” and
calls upon the “dirty Persians” to return to “Persia”. 341 Furthermore, UNHCR was
informed by Sabaean-Mandaean sources that leaflets were also distributed in mosques
asking people to identify and report on emptied Sabaean-Mandaean properties in their
neighbourhoods, which were then confiscated by religious militias. 342
Public baptisms are an important part of the Sabaean-Mandaean religion and there are
reports of worshippers being harassed and abused during these ceremonies. 343 Attacks on
religious sites inhibit Mandaeans to come for worshipping, baptisms and rituals in their
temples. 344
The alleged perpetrators are radical Shi’ite militias, Sunni insurgency groups, and criminal
gangs who use religion to justify their attacks. 345 Religion seems to be a major, but not the
only, reason for attacks against Sabaean-Mandaeans. Sabaean-Mandaeans traditionally
dominate the sectors of gold and silversmiths and jewellers and are perceived to be
relatively wealthy. They have no protection by association with militia groups or tribes, and
338 BBC News, Iraq chaos threatens ancient faith, see above footnote 268. See also “Christians232F”.
339 See also: Society for Threatened People, Mandaeans in Iraq, see above footnote 312. Two translated
threat letters from insurgency groups are published in the Annex.
340 USDOS, International Religious Freedom Report 2006 – Iraq, see above footnote 28; Kendal, see above
footnote 268; Bolender, see above footnote 304.
341 Society for Threatened People, Press Release, Terrorists send “last warning” to Mandaeans in Iraq,
20 June 2006, http://www.gfbv.de/pressemit.php?id=576&stayInsideTree=1.
342 This is consistent with reports by UNAMI HRO, which have found that “(T)hreats include instructions
not to rent or sell the property left behind, which in turns increases hardship for the displaced family. UNAMI
HRO also received reports that many of the abandoned houses are later occupied by militias.”; see UNAMI
HRO, August 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 9, see above footnote 26.
343 Bolender, see above footnote 304.
344 USDOS, International Religious Freedom Report 2006 – Iraq, see above footnote 28; ABC Radio
National, The Religion Report: Mandaeans persecuted in Iraq, 7 June 2006, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/
religionreport/stories/2006/1657535.htm.
345 Kendal, see above footnote 268; BBC News, Iraq chaos threatens ancient faith, see above footnote 268.
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