Latest news with #Asa'ibAhlal-Haq
Rudaw Net
08-03-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Two Shia parties boycott Iraqi parliament over PMF law
Also in Iraq Iraq continues to import Iranian gas despite expired US waiver Compensation for returning Iraqi IDPs paused because no funds Iraq faces energy crunch as US ends waiver for Iranian gas imports Oil and gas law will not be passed this legislative term: Iraqi MP A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two influential Shia factions in the Iraqi parliament, the State of Law Coalition and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, boycotted Saturday's parliamentary session in protest of the exclusion of the contentious Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law from the agenda, forcing the session's postponement. Saturday's session was postponed 'due to the lack of quorum,' state media reported. The session's agenda included six items, but the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law was not among them. 'We are waiting to see how serious the parliament presidency and the government are about including the [PMF] law in the sessions,' Jassim al-Alawi, an MP from the State of Law Coalition, told Rudaw, adding that if they are assured it will be on the agenda, 'the sessions can continue.' The State of Law Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais al-Khazali, are two of the most influential Shia political parties in Iraq, both maintaining strong ties to Iran and advocating for the institutionalization of the PMF. The law in question aims to regulate the PMF's structure, salaries, and retirement policies, a matter of particular concern for both parties as their political and military influence is closely tied to the PMF's role in Iraq's security framework. 'There is a clear stance from the State of Law Coalition and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq: the PMF law must be included in upcoming parliamentary sessions, or we will boycott them as agreed,' Alawi said. Aqil al-Fatlawi, spokesperson for the State of Law Coalition, echoed Alawi's stance. 'The State of Law bloc remains firm in its stance, refusing to attend parliamentary sessions that do not include the [PMF] law on the agenda," he said on X. The PMF is composed of various armed factions, some of which have close ties to Iran, making it a significant force in Iraq's security and political landscape. In 2024, the government proposed amendments to the law, setting minimum and maximum salary limits for PMF personnel and defining the legal retirement age. Parliament failed to reach a consensus on the amendments during its session on February 4 and the bill was subsequently removed from Saturday's agenda. 'Many are exploiting the instability faced by PMF members due to the lack of a legal framework that protects them from manipulation,' Alawi noted. He claimed that some PMF leaders have started using the force for electoral and political purposes, stressing that 'the PMF should be treated like other security institutions, with a clear legal structure ensuring its future.' He pointed out that parliament has many important issues on its agenda that will be affected by their boycott. 'Some important laws must be passed during this phase, particularly regarding amendments to the electoral law, which is a crucial issue at this time,' he said. 'This is our demand, and we are determined to pass the PMF law during this period. Most political forces support the PMF, except for a few who prefer the current state of disorder, which ultimately harms the rights of an essential segment of Iraq's security forces,' he said.
Shafaq News
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Khazali on Syria: 'Unacceptable Silence'
Shafaq News/ The international community must urgently intervene to protect Syria's Alawite community from targeted killings, Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, said on Saturday. On X, Al-Khazali expressed concern over escalating violence in Syria, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups with a 'history of terrorism,' accusing these groups of operating under the guise of security forces. He also condemned recent attacks targeting members of Syria's Alawite community. 'The international community's silence in the face of these massacres is unacceptable,' Al-Khazali stated, urging both active and non-active parties in the Syrian conflict to take responsibility for halting the violence and ensuring civilian protection. The Secretary-General also stressed the need for a comprehensive political solution that guarantees the rights of all Syrians without discrimination. — قيس الخزعلي (@Qais_alkhazali) March 8, 2025 His remarks followed two days of intense violence in Syria's coastal region, where security forces reported clashes with armed factions described as 'remnants of the former regime.' According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the clashes resulted in 93 deaths among security personnel and 120 fatalities among the armed groups. An estimated 162 civilians were also killed in what observers described as 'scattered massacres' across coastal provinces.
Shafaq News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Khazali: Resistance strong, denies US influence in Iraq
Shafaq News/ The resistance in Gaza and Lebanon remains active despite targeted assassinations, Qais Al-Khazali, Secretary-General of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, revealed on Tuesday. Speaking at the 'Resistant Martyr's Day' conference in Baghdad's Directorate of Media Hall, Al-Khazali dismissed claims that Israel had achieved victory. 'The enemy cannot declare success despite the temporary halt in Gaza,' he said, adding that the assassination of resistance leaders in Palestine and Lebanon does not mean the battle is over. Al-Khazali also rejected assertions that the United States dictates the country's leadership. 'Iraq's leadership is chosen through elections and the people's will,' the Secretary-General asserted, warning of a political figure seeking the premiership with US backing. He noted that Washington had only intervened once in selecting an Iraqi Prime Minister since 2003, calling that experience a 'failure.' On domestic security, Al-Khazali dismissed speculation about the dissolution of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and resistance factions, calling such reports 'false.' He stressed that the PMF and resistance groups are essential and cannot be eliminated.
Shafaq News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Armed groups reject Iraq's disarmament push, vow "resistance"
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi government has failed to compel Iran-aligned armed groups to disarm and integrate into official military institutions, sources told Shafaq News on Monday. The sources, on condition of anonymity, revealed that Officials from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's team held unofficial discussions with leaders of these groups in recent months, urging them to relinquish their weapons and cease operating outside the state framework. Among these groups are Kataeb Hezbollah—designated a terrorist organization by the United States—and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, both part of the Iranian 'Axis of Resistance.' The groups, the sources said, rejected the proposals outright, reaffirming their commitment to a 'resistance' approach and insisting they remain ready to defend Iraq. The government officials warned these groups that 'such a decision could prompt economic or military measures from the United States and Israel, potentially plunging Iraq into avoidable crises.' Last month, Prime Minister Al-Sudani confirmed that his government was working to integrate these factions into Iraq's legal and institutional structures. Reuters earlier reported that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the government is attempting to persuade armed groups to disarm or join the official armed forces and security services. During an official visit to London, Hussein stated that while such discussions were unthinkable two to three years ago, it is now unacceptable for armed groups to operate outside the state framework. Observers believe that incorporating these groups into Iraq's security apparatus could protect them from potential targeting or military strikes by the United States or its allies.
