Mandaean community demand protection for Basra cemeteries

BASRA — In Basra, the Mandaean Sabians grapple with pressing issues surrounding their two cemeteries. The primary cemetery in the 5 Mile area is now at capacity, compelling the community to rely on their second burial site in Khor Al-Zubair, which spans 37 acres. Despite the land being allocated by the municipality three decades ago, registration hurdles have left only 12 acres usable due to encroachments by factories and other developments.

The Mandaeans’ main grievance, however, isn’t just the shrinking space but the burial of non-Mandaeans in their cemetery, disrupting their religious practices. Emad Murad, President of the Mandaean Affairs Council, voiced his concerns, stating, “Our demands are not taken seriously by the government because we do not have significant influence or a strong tribal system, and our only representation is a single member of parliament from Maysan governorate.”

Murad also highlighted the demographic challenges facing his community, noting, “There is no official census of Mandaeans in Basra due to continuous migration, but the approximate number exceeds 3,000.” He added that while there are no deliberate restrictions on their religious and social activities, interactions with “ignorant intruders” sometimes lead to conflicts.

Luay Al-Khamisi, media coordinator for the Mandaeans, accused the government of adopting “unfair covert policies” that ignore their repeated appeals for help. “We have written many appeals to build the cemetery or at least construct a fence or provide a guard to prevent encroachment and burial of non-Mandaeans, with no responses yet,” he said.

He further explained the longstanding issues with the Khor Al-Zubair site, which was allocated in the late 1980s but has seen significant encroachment by private and governmental entities. “We have made numerous appeals to register the land, but the procedures remain stalled. Important figures for us, such as the former Sheikh Raad Kabashi, are buried in this cemetery. Since 2003, families have begun encroaching on the central cemetery by burying their dead there. This issue persists at the Khor Al-Zubair cemetery without a clear response from the local government,” Al-Khamisi concluded.

The Sabian Mandaeans, practitioners of an ancient pre-Islamic religion, once thrived in lower Mesopotamia. Today, their global population is estimated at around 70,000, with the majority having relocated from Iraq following the instability caused by the U.S.-led invasion.