Hashd al-Shaabi: A Militia of Terror, Occupation, and Tyranny

By Mohammad Mhadin– Activist

Since its formation in 2014, Hashd al-Shaabi has operated not as a national defense force, but as a violent militia network that has terrorized Iraqi civilians under the guise of state legitimacy. With unwavering support from Iran, these militias have expanded their reach through violence, corruption, and sectarian agendas especially targeting Kurdish regions. Far from securing the country, they have become an occupying force that thrives on fear, lawlessness, and instability. Their record includes murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, and sexual violence.

Occupation and Displacement of Kurds

Since 2017, Hashd al-Shaabi has occupied more than half of the Kurdish-majority territories outside the formal control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including Kirkuk, Sinjar, Tuz Khurmatu, and Khanaqin. These areas, rich in history and identity, have faced a systematic campaign of Arabization. Kurdish families have been forcibly displaced, their lands seized, and replaced with Arab settlers—continuing the demographic engineering policies once championed by the Ba’athist regime. The aim is crystal clear: to undermine Kurdish autonomy and cement Iran’s grip on northern Iraq.

War Crimes and Human Rights Abuses

Hashd al-Shaabi militias have committed grave human rights violations and war crimes across Iraq. These include:

• Mass Executions and Disappearances: Kurdish, Yazidi, and Sunni Arab civilians have been abducted, tortured, or executed without due process. Many simply vanish, leaving families with no answers.
• Looting and Destruction: Homes, businesses, and farms have been looted or torched. Entire communities have been left homeless and destitute.
• Sexual Violence and Trafficking: Women and girls in militia-controlled areas report rape, forced marriage, and trafficking—atrocities that go unpunished.
• Religious Persecution: Yazidis, Christians, and other minorities who survived ISIS now face fresh terror from Hashd al-Shaabi, which continues to target non-Shia groups with discrimination and violence.

Corruption, Smuggling, and the Black Market

Far from defending the nation, Hashd al-Shaabi operates a criminal empire. They control strategic border crossings, extort civilians through illegal checkpoints, and run sophisticated smuggling networks. Oil from Kirkuk and other contested regions is siphoned off and sold illegally—enriching militia leaders and foreign backers, particularly Iran. Weapons meant for the national army are diverted to strengthen their private militias, putting them further beyond legal accountability.

 

Silencing Voices with Bullets

Critics of Hashd al-Shaabi risk arrest, disappearance, or assassination. Journalists, human rights activists, and even politicians have been threatened or killed for exposing their crimes. The Iraqi state, either paralyzed by fear or complicit in silence, has failed to confront the militia’s unchecked power. What exists now is not a state ruled by law, but a state ruled by militias—where dissent is crushed with bullets and impunity reigns.

The Truth Behind the Mask

Hashd al-Shaabi does not protect Iraq. It enforces Iran’s agenda, erodes Iraq’s sovereignty, and brutalizes the people it claims to serve. Behind their flag and uniform is a militia empire of repression, corruption, and sectarian domination. Their presence blocks any path to peace, stability, or justice in both Iraq and Kurdistan. Until their grip is broken, neither freedom nor democracy can take root.