From Shatt al Arab to Val de Loire: the tribulations of an Iraqi-Sabean Human Rights activist

Growing up in Iraq right after the fall of Saddam Hussein was certainly not an easy ordeal. But for Hussam al-Majdi, the challenges were even harder. The young Human Rights activist, now living in France with his family, recalls harsh treatments at school from not only his fellow students but also from his teacher. The reason for this discrimination: Hussam Salama was not born a Muslim, but a Sabean, an old monotheistic religion of the Middle East that included sacred rituals on the banks of the Mesopotamian rivers.

The students’ mistreatment was sometimes followed by that of the teachers. “School was hard”, Houssam recalls, remembering the beating, but also noting that it raised his interest in law and justice. “Religion was never an issue for me. Most of my friends were muslim. As for me, I claim my Sabean identity, but I don’t practice it. I’m not interested in religion or God”.

A family trauma

But Salama’s life would take a dramatic turn in 2003 when his sister was abducted by their neighbor, as the United States army was invading the country and the Iraqi State was collapsing. “There was chaos and no rule of law at the time. My father lamented that no one was protecting us as a minority. This rang in my mind, and I have been interested in freedom and coexistence ever since”. Today, Houssam’s sister is still in Basrah. “We accepted her fate”, Houssam bitterly admitted. “She is still married to the man who abducted her. She has four children. He’s somewhat a decent man and loves her in his own way”, he added, before noting that despite the affection, she isn’t allowed to leave the house unless accompanied by a male from the family.

Law became a priority for the young man, but opportunities and quality studies in Iraq were scarce. In 2015,  Houssam stopped his jewelry work at the family’s shop in order to pursue law workshops with international NGOs such as Pax for Peace, focusing on protecting religious minorities in Iraq. He also benefited from training with Journalists from the Institute for Peace and Frontline Freelance Defenders. “Each workshop helped me understand that I need to increase my knowledge of law”, he explained.

Promoting the rule of law was the start of a vocation, but it couldn’t be complete without engaging in contentious activities. The 2018 Basrah water demonstrations would become a natural area of interest for Salama. “I took part in all demonstrations in Basrah that year. We created an association called Larsa. I was tasked with investigating threats against Human Rights activists and would secure financial support for endangered victims to travel abroad”.

Despite not receiving threats himself during that period, Houssam was arrested during one of the demonstrations by militiamen belonging to a local security force called al Sharep. “I was arrested for 8 to 10 hours and was forced to delete all photos and messages on my phone for my safety”, Houssam described.

But as instability kept rocking Iraq and militias kept undermining stability, the Salamas kept hoping for an opportunity to leave Iraq. “In 2018, we got support from the French embassy as they care about religious minorities in the country”, Houssam explained. But it is at this time that Iraq was to be shaken by yet another popular uprising: the Tishreen revolution.

Uprising and exile

This unprecedented movement, aiming to eliminate corruption and topple the political elite, was a moment of hope but also a tragedy for many young Iraqis. Houssam recalls the fear of repression that had become systematic. Houssam himself was briefly detained at that time. “I was arrested on the 4th of October during a demonstration alongside other demonstrators in Basrah near the governorate’s house”.

Sensing that the situation was escalating, the Salamas seized an opportunity to flee Iraq once and for all. “I got an interview with the French ambassador on the 24th of October, and we left for France on Christmas Eve”. But despite planning for his family’s flight, Hussam would still reach out to those around him: “I kept providing assistance to some activists by securing their departure to Turkey for safety. But I also lost friends, such as Tahseen Usama, as well as Reham Yaakoub, both murdered by militiamen in broad daylight. Hussam and his family arrived in France on December 25th, 2019.

After arriving in France, Houssam’s main objective was to graduate in Law. But language was an issue. “I was rejected twice from universities, but I didn’t give up. I learned French at Tours University, and after another rejection, I finally got a positive reply”, Houssam recalls. The University of Tours, therefore, became his new academic training ground where he hopes to graduate in Law. 

The distance from his native country did not diminish his interest in Iraqi affairs, but rather helped broaden his focus. “I follow politics in Iraq, but also in Gaza”, he explained, noting similarities between the plight of the Palestinians and those of vulnerable communities in his own country. Houssam remains optimistic, but at the same time, fears the return of sectarian violence to his country. “Security in Iraq is still weak, evident in the unsolved assassination cases we regularly come across,” he added.

The struggles of integration

Now in France, his ordeals have not disappeared, but have changed significantly. For an Iraqi family living in France with no connections, the challenges center on isolation. “I feel a sense of distancing from the French people when they hear my foreign accent or realize I come from Iraq”, Houssam noted.  

Despite this feeling of rejection, Houssam pursued his studies. But the financial toll is somewhat crippling. “I am a student, and neither do I have the right to financial support, nor do I have a scholarship since I am too old. I remember eating only one or two eggs per day during my first year. I finally received an exemption from the French government for financial support.” The precarious situation Houssam lives in is no mystery to the vast majority of foreigners, be it immigrants or refugees from the global south.