Yashar S Ahmad
In the years since its formation, Hashd al-Shaabi — or the Popular Mobilization Forces — has evolved far beyond the original justification for its existence. Once presented as a necessary bulwark against ISIS, it has transformed into a sprawling network of militias that operate with impunity across Iraq. Today, Hashd al-Shaabi functions less as a component of the Iraqi state and more as a state within a state — one that wields coercive power without accountability, oversight, or legitimacy.
From Liberation Force to Occupying Power
While the group was ostensibly established to defend Iraqi sovereignty, the reality on the ground tells a far darker story. In many parts of Iraq, particularly in disputed territories under Article 140, Hashd al-Shaabi’s presence resembles that of an occupying power rather than a national defense force. Its units enter towns and neighbourhoods under the pretext of providing security, only to impose a new form of domination over the very civilians they claim to protect.
Reports from multiple localities describe a consistent pattern:
- Homes and properties are seized by force.
- Civilians face harassment, threats, and intimidation.
- Locals are coerced into serving the militia, often under duress, expanding its manpower and control.
These are not isolated incidents but a deliberate strategy — one that consolidates militia authority at the expense of community safety and ethnic coexistence.
Displacement and Demographic Engineering
The most alarming dimension of Hashd al-Shaabi’s activities lies in the systematic displacement of Kurdish residents in disputed areas. Entire families have been driven from their homes, their properties repurposed into militia bases, checkpoints, or income-generating assets. The goal is clear: to alter the demographic fabric of these territories and cement long-term political control under the guise of “security operations.”
This practice bears the hallmarks of mafia-style land seizure rather than any legitimate act of national defense. It undermines coexistence between communities and deepens the fractures that already threaten Iraq’s fragile unity.
Unchecked Power, Unaccountable Command
Despite formal ties to the Iraqi government, Hashd al-Shaabi’s operational reality is one of fragmentation and lawlessness. Its units answer not to Baghdad, but to their own internal hierarchies — to a small number of powerful commanders who use the organization as a personal tool of influence. The result is a militia network that acts autonomously, extracting loyalty and resources from the population through coercion rather than consent.
This erosion of state authority is among the most dangerous trends in post-ISIS Iraq. A government that tolerates parallel military structures undermines its own sovereignty and invites perpetual instability.
The Need for Accountability and Reform
The international community — and particularly Iraq’s own democratic institutions — can no longer afford to treat Hashd al-Shaabi as a benign or transitional actor. What began as a temporary mobilization against terrorism has mutated into a permanent architecture of repression.
True national sovereignty requires the disarmament, demobilization, and integration of militia elements under transparent state authority. Without that, Iraq risks remaining hostage to armed groups that answer to commanders, not to the constitution.
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