Iran-linked militias claim arrest linked to threats to disrupt religious holiday
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units have conducted numerous arrests of alleged 'Bathists' in recent days that raise questions about the legitimacy of the arrests and the political reasons behind them.
BAGHDAD — As intra-Shiite conflict simmers in Iraq, arrests and questions about them threaten to derail attempts to restore calm after some of the worst violence in years.
On Sept. 8, the government-salaried, Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) stated they had conducted an operation in the early morning hours against a plan by supporters of the outlawed Baath Party to disrupt a massive Shiite religious ceremony underway.
A statement claimed the operation had been conducted “in the holy governorates of Karbala, Babylon, Muthanna and Diwaniyah.”
The PMU, which is dominated by Iran-linked Shiite factions, called it “pre-emptive.” Many PMU are taking part in securing the religious ceremony, which draws millions of Iraqis and foreigners every year to Karbala.
