CPTnet
21 June 2005
IRAQ: The weapons of the Muslim Peacemaker Teams
by Joe Carr
Meeting with the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) was one of the highlights of
my trip to Iraq; MPT is one of the few glimmers of hope in the darkness of
U.S. occupation. Iraqi activists from Karbala formed the organization last
January. They asked CPT to lead a week-long training. They now have a
membership of around twenty and are looking to expand into other areas. Two
of them are looking for funding to attend the CPT training in Chicago this
winter.
"They [the U.S.] want to make civil war between the Sunni and the Shiite,"
one said, "but civil war is impossible because we are all so mixed together.
For instance, my sister married a Sunni, and we go pray together in the
mosque. They push all Iraqis to make war with each other; they even try to
divide the Shiite. The U.S. and the surrounding countries don't want Iraq to
be safe because its oil could make it too powerful."
MPT is determined to resist these divisions. In April a member of MPT
assisted two Iraqis who raised $20,000 on the Internet for much needed
medical supplies for the main hospital in Fallujah. MPT, accompanied by two
CPTers, took the supplies to the hospital. Then in May, MPT helped clean up
the trash and rubble from the U.S. attacks on Fallujah. The Fallujans
received their help gratefully and participants considered the action a
transformative experience. One said, "We proved, in a simple way, that
peaceful living can exist."
Their commitment to peacemaking is rooted in their faith. One said, "We
started MPT because we believe that the real spirit of Islam is mercy and
forgiveness." Another said, "I'm no specialist,
but I understand that Islam is about the real peace; any section of Islam
is talking about the peace; that's why Salaam Aleikum (may peace be upon
you) is the most common phrase."
They also believe that nonviolence is effective, "Occupations have all the
weapons except the peace; we can use this weapon. In war, only the young
men can resist. With nonviolence everyone can participate."
"Violence happens when democracy disappears," one said, "and the U.S. is
using this violence to justify staying. We need to rebuild ourselves by
ourselves. We need assistance, but it should be like the assistance CPT gave
to MPT. They didn't control, they only gave inspiration and an example."
We asked the MPTers what they'd like us to do when we go back to the U.S.,
and one said, "Put pressure on your government to give the happiness back to
Iraq; let them begin reconstruction, and be courageous."
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Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative of the historic peace churches
(Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, and Quakers) with support and
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Supporting violence-reduction efforts around the world is its mandate.
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