Mandaean member of advisory committee of STP Iraq section disappeared

The Society for Threatened Peoples STP (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV) is deeply concerned about the Mandaean Sattar Jabbar Rahman from Baghdad, an active member of the advisory committee of its STP Iraq section. He disappeared without a trace ten days ago, said his wife by telephone from the Iraqi capital on Friday to the Near-east consultant of the STP Germany, Dr. Kamal Sido, in Göttingen. "I am afraid that Mr. Rahman has been the victim of a crime of violence”, said Sido. Hopes of seeing him alive shrink day by day. The family has to date received no telephone calls or letters demanding a ransom. Rahman informed the STP regularly on the general situation of the Mandaeans and concrete violations of human rights towards members of his religious community. The abduction of a young Mandaean on 23.09.2009 in Baghdad was the last most particularly serious case which he reported to Göttingen. In the spring of 2009 he was invited to Germany by the German section of the STP and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. He took part in the international conference "Ethnic and Religious Minorities in Iraq Today” on 11th /12th April 2009 in Frankfurt/Main, speaking in detail on the situation of the threatened Mandeans in southern and central Iraq.

On his return to Iraq Rahman received many anonymous threats. "But he did not let himself get scared and continued to give interviews on the situation of his religious community and other minorities in the country to Iraqi TV and radio stations”, reported Sido. The last occasion was at the beginning of November when Rahman appeared on the Iraqi TV station Al-Fayha.

At least 25,000 of the former 30,000 Mandaeans in Iraq have now fled to neighbouring countries from the continuous terror and planned crimes of violence. The Mandaean community, which traces its origins back to John the Baptist, counts only some 60,000 members throughout the world. Some 1,200 of them live in Germany. There have also been some Mandaeans among the Iraq refugees who come to Germany through the Friedland reception centre.

The STP Near-east consultant, Dr. Kamal Sido, will be glad to answer questions at nahost@gfbv.de