
On 14 August 2025, Dakok organized coordinated demonstrations in London, outside the Iraqi Embassy, and in Manchester, outside the Iraqi Consulate-General, to denounce the growing influence and unlawful power of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and other armed militias in Iraq. Dakok’s statement stressed that these militias, imposed on Iraq since 2014 and legitimized in 2016, have entrenched themselves as parallel state actors—expanding their authority through repression, sectarian violence, and even Iranian-made drone strikes targeting Kurdistan’s oil infrastructure—thus undermining the rule of law and stability.
The demonstrations also drew attention to troubling patterns of surveillance: in Manchester, Dakok activists and participants have been targeted twice this year and once in 2024 by consulate staff, while in London they were monitored once earlier this year—clear evidence of ongoing attempts to intimidate peaceful protesters. By holding these demonstrations, Dakok not only condemned the unchecked expansion of militia power in Iraq but also reaffirmed its role in exposing violations and pressing Iraqi, Kurdish, and international authorities to confront these threats to justice and regional security.
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