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Analysts say that Iraqi militants linked to deep-rooted political parties have killed and kidnapped dozens of political activists, creating a climate of fear before the parliamentary elections in October.
Although the government has promised to protect activists and punish the attackers, analysts say that powerful paramilitary groups are designed to block votes and intimidate the two-year-old grassroots protest movement hoping for political change in this oil-rich country.
The United Nations recorded the targeted assassinations of 32 “protesters and critics” from October 2019 to May 2021, and another 16 people survived the attempted murders. Another 20 people disappeared after being kidnapped. Approximately 500 people were killed in the violence in the October 2019 demonstration, which overthrew the previous government.
Rahib Sigel, a senior analyst at the Crisis Group in Baghdad, said: “We cannot say that there is a perpetrator behind all kidnappings and killings.” But “for activists and those trying to establish political parties… . Obviously, it is the paramilitary groups that are involved in politics that promote this intimidation. They want to prevent them from participating in formal politics.”
Siegel added that this pattern of violence “facilitates an atmosphere of fear.”
No one has been charged for any of these crimes. Some fledgling parties have boycotted the first elections since the October 2019 protests.An Iraqi activist who went into hiding for fear of being attacked said that he believed the attack on the activist was “because of [political elites and militias] Feel the danger of activists in the election.”
After the U.S.-led Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein was expelled, Shiite militias flourished in the chaos. Their role in the fight against the Sunni jihadist group Isis that began in 2014 has increased their power and popularity. But with allegations of militia crimes after Isis failed in 2018, public opinion turned against the militias, who are now in a country-the sponsored security umbrella is called Hashd al-Shaabi, or the People’s Mobilization Force. Protesters criticized Shia militias for their ties to Tehran, which used the Revolutionary Guards to support Iraqi groups that frequently attacked military bases stationed in the United States.
Iraq’s unelected Prime Minister Mustafa Kadimi came to power after the protesters overthrew his predecessor. He expressed support for the protest movement but was hindered in deterring militias with real political influence. Their success in the ballot box in 2018 means that armed groups “have more national powers than the prime minister. They can reach more parliamentarians…. Chatham Institute senior researcher Renard Mansour said more Get more access to justice and more key political figures. “It is not a small number of militias that can intimidate the Prime Minister. They are within the national system,” he added.
The demonstrators had hoped New election lawObtaining approval at the end of 2020 and increasing the number of electoral districts will loosen power control over mature political parties. But analysts warn that larger parties with stronger financial resources and stronger local connections will still prevail.
An Iraqi political adviser, who asked not to be named, said: “Parties that also benefit from low turnout rates are trying to frustrate people and disappointed by the possibility of change.” “And we think even if it is [latest] The assassination can be explained here. “
As unbridled attacks on militants continue, usually in broad daylight or captured by CCTV, public confidence in the Iraqi government has dropped sharply.Only 22% of Iraqis said they trust the government Polls In April by the Al Mustakilla research team and Gallup International.
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