Referring to the remarks made by certain foreign politicians, including French President Emanuel Macron, on the dissolution of Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, the Iraqi MP Abbas al-Bayati of the National Alliance told Mehr News correspondent that Macron’s remarks are an “intervention in Iraq’s domestic affairs,” because the PMF is Iraq’s national forces, and considered a legal organization by the parliament.
“The mobilization forces played a major part in defeating ISIL in Iraq, therefore no country has a right to ask us for its dissolution or for adopting a certain policy toward the organization,” he stressed.
He went on to add, “Hashd al-Shaabi is affiliated with no other country and is only in contact with the commander of Iraq’s Armed Forces. The mobilization forces supports Iraq’s army and is not restricted to a certain political party or ethnic or religious group.”
“The future of Hashd al-Shaabi is clear,” he said. “The PMF is considered as the third pillar of militia in Iraq, and we are not the only country with such a structure. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the US all have such forces.”
“The PMD will be organized in the future for defending the country and its political system,” he stressed.
The Iraqi PM then talked about the US recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israeli capital, saying “Donald Trump’s move was dangerous and unprecedented. Muslim countries need to set aside their differences to unite for al-Quds and Palestine and prevent a dangerous future from taking place in the region.”
“Naturally, if there were no internal conflicts in Arab-Islamic countries, Donald Trump would not have dared to make such a move against al-Quds,” he said. “In the current situation, the threat of fragmentation awaits the future of the region in the absence of a unified front against the Zionist regime.”
Interview by: Somayeh Khomarbaghi, translated by: Marjohn Sheikhi