BAGHDAD — Iraqi universities have recently become the scene of military and political maneuvers by the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). In a response to this development, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdul Razzaq al-Issa announced April 14, "We are determined to remove the heads of the universities who do not maintain the independence that threatens the identity of the Iraqi academic institution. Universities will not be part of political calculations.”

Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, the head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous), made a statement March 18 calling for the establishment of the Popular Mobilization Units University, warning against any possible plot to distance the PMU from the Iraqi arena.

These statements sparked much controversy in Iraq. While some believes this is an attempt to ideologize the policies on campus, as was the case in Iran, others believe it is an attempt to defend the PMU’s purposes in Iraq.

In a statement, Khazali's office said the speech by Khazali was the "first conference" held for the PMU university students, in conjunction with the victories achieved in west Mosul and the operations to liberate the city of Tal Afar at the hands of the PMU.