The Mandians: History and Diaspora

The Mandians are an ethno-religious community primarily from the marshy areas at the head of the Persian Gulf in Iraq and Iran. Due to the 2003 coalition invasion of Iraq, many Mandians fled, resulting in a global diaspora with communities now in various countries. The Mandians view themselves as one of the oldest autocthonist religious traditions in the Middle East, with their origins in the region. They have distinct practices, such as frequent baptisms, and they follow scriptures written in a unique form of Aramaic. Western scholarship on the Mandians has largely focused on their language and scriptures.