The first Gulf war, the years of sanctions, and now a second war have left Iraq in shambles. Where once it was a country with a highly educated populace and reasonable security for most, Iraq’s civil society has been shattered by a ruined economy. Unemployment is 50% to 60 % in many parts of Iraq. People have turned to violence in desperation to exist. Now, no one is secure from thieves or kidnappers. Compounding this situation is a destroyed infrastructure, wrecked housing, clinics, hospitals, and schools, and the lack of funds for even simple things like trash collection. People are overwhelmed and do not know where to start in order to make improvements in their lives. The Muslim Peacemaker Team is a source of support and encouragement and the leadership necessary to get things back on the right path, while teaching peace through word and example. MPT is focusing on the immediate needs of the people, which were determined by a consensus of its members.
The idea for a Muslim Peacemaker Team developed in January of 2005 in the spirit of the Christian Peacemaker Teams that work in Iraq and several other countries. CPT is a non-profit organization based in Chicago and Toronto that is committed to supporting communities struggling with violence and was founded in 1984 by the Brethren, Quaker, and Mennonite Churches and is also partnered with other peace churches. While working with the Iraqi Human Rights Watch in Karbala, Sami Rasouli met CPT members and liked what they had to offer. They had deeply passionate and selfless solidarity, fellowship and respectful capacity building. He also liked that they were not proselytizing or patronizing and did not offer money or propaganda. Sami asked that they train Muslim men and women to be peacemakers so they could work with the CPT. After a week of intensive training in the skills of documentation and observation, nonviolent intervention and patience, 15 Muslims became peacemakers. Acting out everyday events such as the 2 and 3 day wait in the gasoline lines gave them opportunities to practice using nonviolent means to resolve differences. Working through their own hurts and biases in order to be open to others’ feelings and experiences were also included in the training. They took the name Muslim Peacemaker Team and chose Sami Rasouli as their director and Mr. Hussein Al abrahemy as co-director.