Mandaeans - A Threatened Religion

October 19, 2008

Author: Angus Crawford

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7678123.stm

Members of an ancient religious group living in the UK are warning their faith could soon disappear.

The Sabian Mandaeans have fled persecution in Iraq. Some have found safety in Britain, but now they claim they have nowhere to worship or teach their children about their faith.

Dr Layla Alroomi, who has lived in the UK for more than 30 years, fears their culture is under threat.

"We feel our community, our religion, our culture is slipping away from our hands," she says.

As a student in Iraq she was imprisoned for her political beliefs, now she is trying to rally the tiny Mandaean community here.

Water religion

But it is difficult.

"We have no priest, if somebody wants to get married in the UK, they can't be because we don't have a place to meet."

She explains that water is at the heart of their faith. They must baptise as often as possible in running water, preferably a river.

"We don't have a temple near water to perform our religious rituals."