Muslim Peacemaker Teams in Fallujah (Photo: MPT)

By Joe Carr
Christian Peacemaker Teams

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. It was formed last January by Iraqi activists from Karballa. They asked CPT to lead a weeklong training. In May MPT did a symbolic clean-up action in Fallujah that CPT participated in. They now have a membership of around 20 and are looking to expand in 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. They were amazingly well received and everyone considered it a deeply transformative experience. One said, “We proved, in a simple way, that peaceful living can exist.”

They’re 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 Alakium (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.”

View Photo Gallery of MPT –Shia Muslims Join Sunni in Fallujah Cleanup

Joe Carr is a 24-year-old anti-oppression activist and performance artist from Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and spent January-April 2003 coordinating for the International Solidarity Movement in Rafah, Palestine, where he witnessed Israeli soldiers murder US peace activist Rachel Corrie and British peace activist Tom Hurndall. Joe is now a full-time activist with the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Palestine. He is currently working with CPT in Baghdad, Iraq, having been denied entry to Israel. He’ll be back in the states in June.