Iraqi PMU Says Won’t Interfere, But Supports Iraq Protests

By Staff, Agencies

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units, also known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, voiced support for the demands of protesters, but stressed won’t interfere in the country’s political situation.

In a statement on Thursday, the PMU stressed that it is not going to meddle in the public demonstrations as it is a force tasked with ensuring the security and integrity of Iraq and defending the country against terrorism.

The statement further dismissed rumors circulating on social media against the PMU, the latest of which was about the deployment of military vehicles from the house of the force commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad’s Jadriyah neighborhood in order to crack down on protesters.

The statement stressed that al-Muhandis has no base or house in Jadriyah and his office is the PMU headquarters in the Green Zone of Baghdad.

The PMU played a decisive role in Iraq’s uphill 2014-2017 battle against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. The Iraqi parliament on November 26, 2016 approved a law giving full legal status to PMU fighters.

The ongoing demonstrations in Iraq follow a previous bout of anti-government protests in early October over corruption, unemployment and lack of basic services.