“By depriving the Popular Mobilization Forces of the special vote in the next election, those who seek to weaken their power and confiscate their victories are targeting this group [the PMF] that has made sacrifices and robbing them of their right to be represented and protected,” read a statement from Abu Ali al-Askari, a senior Kataib Hezbollah commander, published on a PMF-linked Telegram channel.
On Friday, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) published the list of forces eligible to vote two days early, on October 8. The list did not include the PMF.
The commission had requested the PMF submit a list of members who would be voting early, but they failed to do so on time and that is why they were excluded, IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told state media on Saturday.
“The Popular Mobilization statements were much later than their due date, and the commission was unable to include them in the special vote, but they are covered in the general vote,” she said.
The PMF were formed when a group of militias responded to a call-to-arms from Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to stand against the Islamic State group (ISIS) as it swept across northern Iraq in 2014. They have been officially incorporated into the Iraqi security forces, but some militias within their ranks operate outside of Baghdad’s control and receive support from Iran. These groups are blamed for assassinations of anti-government activists, and rocket and drone attacks on American interests around the country.
Askari said their exclusion from the early voting is an effort to “thwart the electoral process” and urged PMF members and their families to get out and vote.
The PMF are not part of the primary security measures on election day, October 10. A security plan was devised by the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, intelligence forces, and national security forces, spokesperson for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji told Rudaw last month. The counter-terrorism forces and militias of the PMF are not part of the plan, but are being held in reserve if needed.
