PMU whittles membership as Iraqi government absorbs militia
Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units are forcing factions out and closing their operations as part of the integration process into Iraq's official security forces.
BAGHDAD — In a fight for legitimacy, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units are purging certain factions. The leader of Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas Brigade, part of the PMU since its formation in 2014, was arrested Feb. 8. The forces that are holding him are unknown and he has not yet been transferred to the court system.
The timing of Sheikh Aws al-Khafaji's arrest raised speculation that it was linked to his recent claims that the killers of Iraqi novelist Alaa Mashzoub belong to a group aligned with Iran. “My cousin Alaa Mashzoub wrote an article against Iran and he was killed for that,” Khafaji had said.
Mashzoub, who belonged to the Khafaji tribe, had criticized Iran's influence in Iraqi political affairs and took part in the popular movement and last year’s demonstrations in Karbala province calling for reform and improved services. He was assassinated Feb. 2.
“We do not know when Khafaji will be released or his whereabouts.Some reports say he might soon appear in court,” Khafaji’s office manager Hussein al-Shammari told Al-Monitor.
