It’s pretty well known that the persecution of the Christians in Iraq has been one of the consequences of the
war there.  The BBC reports that Iraqi extremist ideology resulted in the distributed pamphlets to Christian
and Mandaean homes in Baghdad reading “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….”

This is a terrible situation for the Iraqi Christian community that claims roots all the way back to Jesus. 
But as tragic as the Christian condition is there, how much more grave
is the genocide going on against the Mandaeans, one of the oldest religions
in the world. 

Scholars believe that John the Baptist was a member
of the Mandaeans.

At the start of the war about 60,000 Mandeans, lived in Iraq
(a majority of the Mandaean membership); today, fewer than 5,000 remain. 
Many have fled; many were killed.  Unlike other victims of sectarian
violence in Iraq, Mandaeans cannot defend themselves.  Their religion being strictly pacifist,
Mandaeans carry no weapons. 

They have suffered  the confiscation of their property in Baghdad, Basra, and Baquba, forced
conversions and circumcisions , and death. Since Mandaeans have no voice in the Iraqi parliament
 and no direct connection to any member of government, the government has taken little action
to protect them.  

Groups have been formed to persuade our government to help.  View the following:

 ·         BBC report on the Mandaean situation in Iraq:  BBC Report