Nujaba Movement member urges parliament to pass Popular Mobilization Forces draft law

BAGHDAD — Mahdi Al-Kaabi, a member of the Nujaba Movement, called on Iraqi parliament to pass the Popular Mobilization Forces law, saying it “guarantees the rights of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters,” and described diplomatic intervention in the matter as “a violation of state sovereignty.”

Speaking to Dijlah TV, al-Kaabi said, “There is information suggesting that Iraq is being targeted, and this could happen at any moment.” Al-Kaabi criticized the role of the United States and its allies, accusing them of attempting to disarm resistance groups in Iraq and Lebanon.

“This is the American project to subdue the resistance,” he said. He added that despite U.S. air superiority and “agents and spies” on the ground, “we are the stronger party.”

The Iraqi parliament completed the second reading of the PMF draft law in mid-July, despite a walkout by many Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers who objected to the bill being added to the session’s agenda without consensus. No date has been set yet for a final vote on the legislation.

Established in 2014 as a response to the rise of the Islamic State, the PMF is officially part of Iraq’s security apparatus. However, it includes factions with close ties to Iran and varying levels of autonomy from the Iraqi government.

The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Iraq voiced concerns over proposed laws to formalize the PMF during a meeting with First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohsen Al-Mandalawi on Aug. 2, warning the legislation could entrench foreign influence and empower armed groups beyond state control.

These remarks echoed earlier comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani that the legislation would “institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq’s sovereignty.”

Excerpts from Mahdi Al-Kaabi’s interview with Dijlah TV:

The Popular Mobilization Law guarantees the rights of Popular Mobilization Forces fighters, and the intervention of ambassadors in this matter is a violation of state sovereignty. The brothers in the parliament must pass the law to demonstrate respect for the constitution and state sovereignty. Today, we see the global arrogance powers and the countries normalizing relations with the Zionist entity targeting the Axis countries in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon. We observe great coordination by the enemy in Lebanon and Iraq in terms of steps and plans to disarm the resistance. This is the American project to subdue the resistance, and there is information suggesting that Iraq is being targeted, and this could happen at any moment.

The victory over the Islamic State group was Iraqi, not American. Obama said that American air cover would not be effective without the will of the Iraqi soldier on the ground. We ask today, where is the role of the Iraqi political actor in the face of American interventions and threats? Therefore, we must have an ally like other countries do, and we have the Islamic Republic in Iran as a good example. I believe the memorandum of understanding signed by Larijani in Baghdad will not be implemented.

We want political actors to be sincere in supporting the resistance, not just in media statements. We are allies of the Islamic Republic and consider it a reliable partner. We have great trust in some honorable Iraqi parties, not those trying to shelter under the American umbrella—those who do are exposed. The events of 2014 are evidence of that. Let them ask themselves who funded the Islamic State group and who tried to overthrow the political process at that time—it was the Americans and the Gulf states.

God willing, we will overcome this bottleneck through wisdom and wise leaders. We are strong, even if the other side has air superiority, and even if there are agents and spies among politicians and media figures internally. But we are the stronger party and will not allow Iraq to become a chess piece manipulated by America to protect its forward base in the region called Israel. Our weapons will not be withdrawn; they support the Iraqi state and its sovereignty.