MANDAEANS SAY TARGETING IN IRAQ UNBEARABLE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001924

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AMMAN AND CAIRO FOR REFCOORDS KANESHIRO AND CHEYNE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/16
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MANDAEANS SAY TARGETING IN IRAQ UNBEARABLE,
REQUEST RESETTLEMENT

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) Summary. On May 31, Sabian Mandaean spiritual leader
Shaykh Sattar Jabbar al-Helo and President of Mandaean
Associations Union Dr. Akram Arar, told EmbOffs that the
situation for Mandaeans in Iraq had become intolerable. They
indicated to EmbOffs that their community had experienced an
increased level of targeted violence and intimidation over
the past few months. Sattar and Dr. Akram urged EmbOffs to
support a refugee designation for Mandaeans in Iraq for those
wishing to leave. RefCoord explained that the USG considers
individual UNHCR referrals to be the appropriate channel for
Iraqi Mandaeans to access the US refugee admissions program.
End Summary.

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COMMUNITY TARGETED
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2. (C) On May 31, Mandaean spiritual leader Sheikh Sattar and
President of the Mandaean Associations Union Dr. Akram Arar
argued to EmbOffs that the level of violence against the
Mandaean community had increased dramatically over the past
few months. Sattar said that he had been shot at several
times, himself, during the same period. He said that some
Mandaean shopowners have been killed and others forced to
close down their stores. (NOTE: Mandaeans in Iraq are
traditionally goldsmiths and reportedly limited in their
choices of profession by social pressures. According to
Sheikh Sattar, Mandaeans cannot open bakeries because
non-Mandaeans will not buy food from them.) Sattar and Akram
said that Mandaean stores, primarily goldsmiths located in
the Baghdad neighborhoods of Amel, Bayaa, and Karadah, had
received threatening letters including accusations of the
community's engagement in sorcery, blasphemy and vice.
Sheikh Sattar produced two examples of the letters but
stressed that the community had received many more.


3. (C) The Mandaean representatives explained said many
Mandaeans have sold their belongings, packed up, and prepared
to leave the country. They expressed concern that leaving
Iraq may create a new set of problems for the community.
They claimed that there are 1500 Iraqi Mandaean families
(about 6,000 people) in Jordan, Syria, and Yemen who are
living in poor conditions with no access to education.
Sattar said his dilemma is whether to tell his people to stay
in Iraq and risk death or leave and risk homelessness.

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REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT
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4. (C) Sheikh Sattar said he hoped to identify two countries
to which Mandaeans can relocate en masse, so they can
maintain sizable communities and preserve their traditions.
He mentioned the US, Canada, and Australia as possible
options. RefCoord said that the USG welcomes UNHCR referrals
of vulnerable Iraqis of all kinds, including Mandaeans, for
processing for resettlement to the US. RefCoord told the
Sheikh that the USG considers individual UNHCR referrals to
be the appropriate channel for Iraqi Mandaeans to access the
US refugee admissions program. The Sheikh and his colleagues
said they had met with UNHCR several times, in Geneva and in
the field. RefCoord recommended that they continue this
dialogue to keep UNHCR informed and able to maintain accurate
country of origin information for use in refugee status
determinations.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Sattar and Akram clearly believe their community is
being targeted for threats and violence on religious grounds.
Sheikh Sattar, distinctly more downbeat than in previous
meetings, said he was thinking of leaving Iraq once his
children finish school. He says he has engaged with Shia
religious leaders such as Grand Ayatollah Sistani and Moqtada
al-Sadr over the past year, but believes that his community's
situation is only worsening.
KHALILZAD