Latest news with #PMFServiceandRetirementLaw
Shafaq News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's PMF Law: Delays are injustice
Shafaq News/ A long-delayed vote on service and retirement rights for Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) prompted renewed calls for action on Tuesday, as the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee warned the force must not become a 'casualty' of political infighting. 'The government must return the PMF Service and Retirement Law for a vote,' committee member Ahmad al-Mousawi told reporters. 'It has already passed its second reading and should guarantee the rights and sacrifices of PMF personnel.' Al-Mousawi said delays to the legislation amounted to 'injustice,' adding that the committee would not allow the PMF to become a 'victim of conflicts or bargaining.' The proposed law is distinct from another PMF-related bill currently under discussion in parliament, which addresses the force's command structure and internal organization, he noted.
Shafaq News
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Faleh Al-Fayyad: Iraq to pass new PMF Law as part of force restructuring
Shafaq News/ The head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Faleh Al-Fayyad, announced on Thursday that the Iraqi Parliament will soon pass the Administrative Structure Law. Speaking at a ceremony honoring PMF officers, Al-Fayyad praised the law, describing it as 'a new step toward rebuilding the PMF along updated frameworks that strengthen the authority's presence and establish it as a disciplined and accountable institution.' He further revealed that the draft law currently under review in Parliament includes the creation of a dedicated PMF Academy. 'This academy is expected to consist of military and technical colleges, as well as departments for leadership, strategic studies, and the humanities.' Al-Fayyad's remarks come amid ongoing parliamentary debate surrounding two separate PMF-related laws that have faced repeated delays due to internal political disputes and unresolved leadership issues. The first draft law, known as the PMF Administrative Structure Law, outlines the legal framework governing the PMF's internal operations, personnel duties, and institutional rights. Initially passed as Law No. 40 of 2016, the law includes 17 articles addressing organizational structure, the creation of new directorates, and legal hierarchies. Parliament completed a first reading, and according to sources, a second reading and possible approval are expected soon. The second and more controversial draft, the PMF Service and Retirement Law, contains over 86 articles covering a wide range of personnel rights, including those of PMF martyrs, wounded members, missing individuals, and brigade commanders. The draft has become a political flashpoint due to a contentious provision that sets a mandatory retirement age for PMF commanders. This provision could significantly impact over 4,000 PMF members, including senior leadership figures and, notably, Al-Fayyad himself—a prominent Shiite figure who has already surpassed the legal age for holding a ministerial post. The absence of a clear successor has further fueled the controversy, stalling the bill's progress in Parliament. International concern has also emerged over the legislation. A recent analysis from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy urged the US administration under former President Donald Trump to 'quietly but firmly signal Baghdad that enshrining the militia umbrella group as a de facto Iraqi IRGC would pose an unacceptable threat to U.S. interests.' In his speech, Al-Fayyad rejected such claims, stating, 'Our enemies have attempted to depict the PMF as a rogue or separate force, but that is simply not true. We are an official entity operating under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief (PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani).'
Shafaq News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Succession showdown: PMF laws delayed over power struggle
Shafaq News / Iraqi lawmakers are locked in a heated debate over two key laws related to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), delaying their passage amid unresolved leadership disputes. The PMF Administrative Structure Law defines the framework governing the duties, responsibilities, and rights of PMF leaders and personnel. Originally passed as Law No. 40 of 2016, the legislation consists of 17 articles regulating administrative and structural matters, including the establishment of new directorates and their legal affiliations. Parliament previously conducted a first reading of the bill, with a second reading and possible approval expected after the Eid holiday. Lawmaker Alaa Al-Bandawi told Shafaq News Agency that the law equates the position of PMF chief to a ministerial role but does not grant full ministerial benefits, particularly regarding retirement. Separately, the PMF Service and Retirement Law, which aims to formalize the force's organizational structure, remains a subject of heated debate. The draft includes more than 86 provisions addressing the rights of PMF personnel, martyrs, wounded, missing individuals, and brigade commanders. The most contentious issue is the retirement age for commanders, a provision opposed by several political blocs. Its implementation would affect over 4,000 PMF members, including senior brigade leaders and the head of the authority, raising concerns over leadership succession. According to Al-Bandawi, the delay in passing the PMF Service and Retirement Law is primarily due to the lack of a clear successor for the current PMF chief, Faleh Al-Fayyad. He noted that in its last session, the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee hosted key PMF figures, including Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri and the PMF secretary-general, to address disputed clauses, particularly retirement age regulations. 'While the law grants the PMF chief ministerial-level duties, it does not extend ministerial retirement privileges. The bill remains under review, pending amendments before it can be reintroduced for parliamentary approval,' he added. Al-Bandawi revealed that the Parliament is scheduled to reconvene after Eid al-Fitr holiday to discuss and vote on several key bills, including the PMF Laws. However, parliamentary sources told Shafaq News that no official directive has been issued regarding a legislative session next week, and no agenda has been circulated.
Shafaq News
26-03-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq Parliament to vote on Halabja Province, PMF laws
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraq's parliament is set to address several laws, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Service and Retirement Law. Tonight's session agenda featured seven items, such as the vote on the draft Halabja Province Law and the second reading of the PMF Law. In its last session, the parliament completed the first reading of the PMF Authority Law, which addresses the administrative structure, including directorates and brigades, after the PMF Service and Retirement Law was withdrawn and returned to the Cabinet due to surrounding controversy. Earlier today, the Halabja Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on Iraq's trade chambers to back its efforts in securing legal recognition for Halabja as Iraq's 19th province.
Shafaq News
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Basra Tribes: No to sectarian violence in Syria
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Unified Tribal Council in Basra has called on the government to strengthen the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and enhance security measures amid growing unrest in Syria. At a press conference during a protest on Monday night, the council urged a strong government response to regional tensions, citing events in Palestine, Lebanon, and attacks on Alawites in Syria. It described the developments as part of a "broader geopolitical struggle involving normalization efforts and regional power shifts." The council accused Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan of supporting extremist groups in Syria, blaming them for "[transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa's] factions committing mass killings of unarmed civilians with regional backing and international silence." It also called on religious and political authorities, as well as Iraq's three branches of government, to prepare for all scenarios. Key demands included 'stricter security vetting of Syrian nationals in Iraq, legal action against figures accused of inciting sectarianism—such as Khamis al-Khanjar [head of the Sovereignty Alliance (Al-Siyada)], and caution in dealing with Al-Sharaa's government, including not extending invitations to it." The council also urged approving the PMF Service and Retirement Law and strengthening the PMF. Meanwhile, a group called Shia Followers of Ahl al-Bayt announced a demonstration on Tuesday evening in front of the Turkish visa office in Basra. Organizers said the protest aims to express solidarity with "persecuted" Shia communities in Syria and reaffirm readiness to confront extremist groups and "enemies of humanity." The Tribal Council's protest followed escalating sectarian violence in Syria, particularly targeting the Alawite community, with over 1,000 people reported killed in coastal regions since March 2025. On Friday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani arrived in Baghdad, where he met with Iraq's Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker, and President. He later held a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, marking the first diplomatic engagement between Baghdad and Damascus since Al-Sharaa took power in Syria. A government source told Shafaq News that Al-Shibani's talks focused on security coordination, with Iraq increasingly alarmed by the spread of terrorist groups in Syria's desert regions.
