Urgent: Petition to Sign to help the Mandaeans attain refugee status

Mandeaism, the last surviving gnostic religion from the antiquity is facing the danger of extinction. Ever since the US led invasion in Iraq, Iraqi Mandaeans are facing constant fear of persecution, kidnap, rape, murder and attempts at forced conversion to Islam, both Sunni and Shi'a.

As an ethno-religious minority, Mandaeans is experiencing genocide and annihilation by the Islamic extremists. This would also mean that the rich Mandaean culture, older than Christianity and Islam, might be forever lost and completely wiped out in a few years if we do not do something.

Please help to keep this ancient community alive by signing this petition to help Mandaeans gain refugee status. It only takes you a few minutes to sign the petition yet the result could potentially save the innocent lives and help to preserve this ancient faith.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/852950474

More about Mandaeans and Mandaeism:

Mandaean Official Site:
http://www.mandaeans.org/

Mandaean Associations Union:
http://www.mandaeanunion.org/

The plight of Iraq's Mandaens:
http://www.counterpunch.org/bolender01082005.html

Youtube video (Mandaeans on BBC):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UyX02EvZcEc

Iraq chaos threatens ancient faith:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4260170.stm