Serbaz Feriq Ahmed – Activist
It is clear to everyone that for the past several months, Hashd al-Shaabi has been trying to push a dangerous law through the Iraqi Council of Representatives. They aimed to secure complete legal support for themselves and the faction they intend to build, establishing a powerful foundation. However, through the efforts of civil society, international pressure, and the Kurdish political bloc within the Iraqi political arena, along with other parties, it was possible to create an obstacle and stop that law proposed by Hashd al-Shaabi.
We, and all parties concerned with establishing and safeguarding Iraq’s and the Region’s institutions, must be cautious and unwavering in our positions, which have so far been collectively against Hashd al-Shaabi’s dangerous project.
As can be seen, there are three political, religious, and national sides in Iraq (Shiite, Sunni Arab, and Kurd). We have previously seen laws and projects passed through political sectarian agreements, not national consensus, such as the Personal Status Law project for Shiites, the General Amnesty Law project for Sunnis, and the project for the restoration of land and property for Kurds.
While this has had some benefits, its harms have been greater for the land and individual Iraqis, because the decisions were political, not thoughtful national decisions.
Following the recent Iraqi parliamentary elections, it is certain that with the military and political power Hashd al-Shaabi holds today in Iraq, it can become the most influential force politically, legally, and militarily in the region. They can bring their dangerous draft laws back to the negotiation table, make them a key point for forming the new Iraqi cabinet, and through this, create an imposed legal majority to make it a fait accompli and completely subjugate all Iraqi government institutions under their authority, effectively ruling Iraq under whatever name.
The Iranian state has also been working systematically for some time to implement a Shiite-centric ideology through Hashd al-Shaabi and turn the Iraqi government into a Shiite religious government.
The Kurdish nation is the primary victim of the implementation of Hashd al-Shaabi’s project laws, because the source of the threats and dangers posed by Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq today is clear. They openly attack daily the citizens in the Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region, and using armed force and invasion, they assault revenue sources within the Region.
A significant part of these threats and dangers is also due to the indecisiveness of Kurdish leaders. They are unable to adopt a national role and take a stance against Hashd and its dangers; some of them are even allies and supporters of this dangerous group, Hashd al-Shaabi.
In this election, serious work must be done so that the results do not lead to another catastrophe for the Kurds, so that we do not see again massacres and invasions at the hands of Hashd and through a shadow government of Hashd al-Shaabi. The Kurdish leaders must no longer be passive, and they must not make the Kurds and the land of Kurdistan a sacrifice for obtaining positions and ranks in the Iraqi government. They must not submit to any preconditions set by the Shiite parties and Hashd al-Shaabi.
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