ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A militia group linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) attacked a Baghdad massage parlour and beat workers on Thursday night in what it described as “fighting societal corruption.”
Rab’Allah, a group supported by the PMF militia network, attacked the Shilan massage parlour in the capital’s Karada neighbourhood.
The group has been linked to several attacks in recent months, including on local activists and political party offices.
In a video footage released on the group’s official telegram channel, a group of masked entered the parlour – in the Jabal Beirut hotel- and began brutally attacking people, including women who work at the massage parlour.
In a statement released to their Telegram channel on Thursday, the militia claimed it is their “duty to stand against societal corruption” and fight off those who are “inspired by the corrupt ideas of America and Israel.”
“We will not let them lay back and have fun without being punished,” it added.
Activist Akram Adhab was shot by masked men on Wednesday night in the al-Talbiya neighbourhood of eastern Baghdad, a day after criticizing Rab’Allah on social media.
“Baghdad is a prison run by Rab’allah,” Adhab had posted on Facebook on Tuesday. “They practice their hobby of constantly abusing people.”
Rab’Allah took part in an attack on the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Baghdad office back in October.
The group has shared pictures to their Telegram channel crossing out names of apparent targets, including the KDP offices, Dijla media channel, the US embassy, and Shilan parlour.
Dijla journalist Ahmed Abdul Samad and his cameraman Safaa al-Ghali were killed in January by unknown gunmen, with Iran-backed groups believed responsible for their murders.
Scores of journalists and activists have been killed for their involvement or coverage of Iraq's protest movement. Iran-backed PMF factions are believed to be behind the deaths of hundreds of protesters killed since demonstrations began last October.
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