The Myth and Reality of Iraq’s al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces): A Way Forward
By Hassan Abbas
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Amman Office September 2017 Amman, Jordan
The contrast was unforgettably awe-invoking: the spontaneous, unpredictable, revolutionary move, entrenched within the gentle, soulful aura of the city’s holiness. The glaring desert sun of Iraq was blazing with full energy, mirroring the people’s voices that took to the streets. It was the mid of June 2014, and the gradual transformation of al-Qaeda in Iraq into the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) was no secret as Mosul had fallen a few days ago, casting a dark shadow upon the lives of millions of Iraqis. But just as heavy as that shadow was, there was an even greater cloud of resistance, pride, and defiance. All before my eyes. I stood on the sandy streets of Najaf as a mere visitor to pursue my study of the “new” Iraq, insignificant in the overwhelming spiritual essence that the atmosphere possessed. In front of me, the golden dome of Ali bin Abu Talib’s shrine glistened under the bright sky, beneath me sitting dust covered centuries of historical glories and tragedies. The spur-of-the-moment, gallant crowds that took marching to the streets, were making their way to the doors of the leading Shia cleric Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani, demanding a religious call to arms to protect their homeland. The self-proclaimed “Islamic State” was seen as expanding and Baghdad appeared vulnerable. Insightfully, Sistani implored citizens to join Iraq’s security services and the al-wajib al-kifai fatwa (religious injunction)1 issued for the purpose did not encourage any vigilante type action. But who cared to pay attention to the nuance at the time. All his followers heard was a religious call to action. Thousands of people strode with the confidence of their Mesopotamian ancestors, reclaiming the liberty they so desperately longed for. The embracing of their freedom was loud, vivacious, and symbolic. The years of Saddam oppression were over – their eyes heavy with determination, mouths uttering words of might and resilience. This was the moment when the idea of al-Hashd al-Shaabi, the Shia dominated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) was born. Sistani’s fatwa calling on Iraqis “to defend the country, its people, the honor of its citizens, and its sacred places” did the magic. I travelled to Iraq many times since then to follow the political, religious and security developments, and this policy brief is based on my personal observations and interviews with dozens of people who joined this movement, Iraqi politicians and members of Iraq’s official security forces. I had the opportunity to discuss Iraq affairs with experts and scholars in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Iran as well. Thanks to Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s office in Jordan and Iraq, an earlier draft of this paper was presented before a group of Iraqi politicians, government officials and representatives of various organs of PMF/Hashd in Baghdad in February 2017, to elicit their feedback. I am very grateful to the group for their insights and valuable critique for improving the paper. I am also very grateful to the respected Bahraluloom family of Najaf, and the two very learned Iraqi ambassadors to the Washington D.C. – former Ambassador Lukman Faily and present ambassador Fareed Yasseen – all of whom facilitated my trips to Iraq and shared their valuable insights.
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