HRW calls for Shia militia ban from Mosul offensive

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Sunday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the military commanders of Iraq to prevent militias involved in human rights abuses and violations to participate in the Mosul operation.

HRW stated that it is the responsibility of the federal government of Iraq to protect civilians from human rights abuses.

“Iraqi military commanders should prevent militias with records of serious abuses from taking part in planned military operations for the city of Mosul,” the report said.

“The government’s obligation to take all possible measures to protect civilians and ensure respect for the laws of war makes it essential to prevent these groups from participating in the Mosul campaign,” the statement continued.

HRW mentioned that the groups with abusive records include components of the Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi such as Badr Brigades, and the Hezbollah Brigades (Kata’ib Hezbollah) among others within the militia.

In the recent liberation of Fallujah from the Islamic State (IS), HRW documented war crimes, killings, torture, kidnapping, and destruction of civilians’ homes by the Iraqi federal government-affiliated Hashd al-Shaabi.

Hashd al-Shaabi — one of the largest Shia militias in Iraq — was created by top Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani after the collapse of the Iraqi army in June 2014.

The Iraqi government largely supports the militia, which has primarily conducted military operations against IS in several provinces across the country.

“Militias that form part of the PMF have repeatedly carried out horrific, sometimes wide-scale abuses, most recently in Fallujah, with no consequences despite the government’s promises to investigate,” said the deputy director of HRW’s Middle East and North Africa division.

“Iraqi commanders shouldn’t risk exposing Mosul civilians to serious harm by militias with a record of recent abuse,” the deputy added.

In June 2016, Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Brigades, said that Hashd al-Shaabi would participate in the liberation of Mosul.

He also pointed out that the militia's participation is against the will of the politicians who oppose it.

Moreover, the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi recently stated that the militia would take part in the Mosul offensive.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany