One of Iraq's religious minority groups which has survived for centuries is now rapidly disappearing.
Iraq’s Mandaeans, or Sabean-Mandaeans as they are known in Arabic, practise a distinct and ancient monotheistic religion which predates Islam and Christianity. This week they observed one of their holiest rituals, Panja (Benja).
The celebration took place in the Tigris river, where many Mandaeans submerged in the running waters to cleanse their bodies and wash away their sins.
Mandaeans fears extinction unless their traditions and people are protected.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid reports from the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

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