The Mandaean people have been inhabitants of Southern Iraq and Western Iran for two millennia. During these times they have either flourished or been forced to withdraw from the society in which they lived and keep their beliefs secret.
The Mandaeans have always suffered religious persecution at the hands of rulers or even their fellow countrymen. Even if a Mandaean hasn’t been treated so badly as to claim they’ve been persecuted, every Mandaean from the Middle East knows what it feels like to be discriminated against. I remember a time I sat with my mother and she told me about her childhood friends. She explained to me many fascinating memories. One really stuck with me though. She told me about a friend she had who was Muslim and one day my mother’s parents invited her friend’s family to the home. They were very nice people but they would not eat or drink a thing! My grandmother complained, ‘Why aren’t you eating or drinking? You are our guests!’ They felt very embarrassed but still they would not eat. Then, finally, the woman explained that she was very religious and she would not eat food made by Mandaean hands or drink from the same cup – they would rather avoid it if they could.
I’m sure many Mandaeans will give you similar experiences. Now, it would be wrong to suggest all Arabic people are like this. Most are very respectful and see other people as equals no matter what the religion. But, it’s those experiences that push you over the edge. It is those experiences that make you say ‘Right, that’s it…I’ve got to go’.
Furthermore, the rise of Saddam Hussein caused even more loss within the community. Young Mandaean men being forced to fight wars (despite being a sin) the high death rate caused a huge imbalance within our community. Many women can’t or couldn’t find partners.
In addition to this the economic and health problems that came with the sanctions throughout the 90s. The lack of education for children and the increase in religious extremism as conditions became desperate meant all minorities in Iraq began fearing for their life.
Therefore, for many Mandaeans they had been forced to move, forced to leave a land they loved because of factors they could not control. They had to move for peace of mind, to know that their children could live free, that they would have the right to good education, the right to decent healthcare, the right to worship in their own way and the right to flourish.
For many Mandaean communities they are still writing the first sentence in the first page of a new era for the Mandaean people.
Noah Kimit
