BAGHDAD, Iraq — It’s easier than ever to impersonate a soldier or police officer in Baghdad, where despite serious security concerns official uniforms are openly sold in shops to civilians.
The sale of uniforms is especially serious in Baghdad, where residents say a dangerous trend has re-emerged: militias and criminals are impersonating security forces, just as they did during the height of the sectarian war several years ago.
While security in the capital remains tenuous and Iraq’s leaders try to fill ministerial posts, including the Interior and Defense Ministry, security institutions appear to have stopped regulating the sale of uniforms despite the country being under a state of emergency.
Samir Thabet, 40, a shop owner selling military equipment in central Baghdad said soldiers and police officers used to show a license that had to be renewed annually to purchase uniforms, but “today there is no oversight or inspections. Before customers used to carry badges and proper military IDs, but today you can’t take risks by asking the customer which institution he belongs to.”
He added that the price of uniforms skyrocketed to an estimated 75,000 Iraqi dinars ($65) from 30,000 ($25) after the Iraqi military abandoned its posts in Nineveh when the Islamic State (IS) took over Mosul in June.
“In addition to military uniforms, shops today offer everything such as knives, bayonets, night vision goggles, army badges military ranks, military grade Tasers, sticks, boots, helmets and flak jackets and other military hardware all to armed factions illegally,” Thabet said.
The Interior Ministry primarily oversees the sale of uniforms but like many government institutions has been ineffective for months as leaders wrangle over ministerial appointments in the new government. Rudaw could not reach the Interior Ministry for comment.
The shops illegally selling uniforms are scattered throughout Baghdad in areas like Sadr City, Bab al-Sharqi, Harj market and Kadhimiya.
As Iraq faces deteriorating security and military and security operations are underway to expel ISIS from the Nineveh, Anbar and Salahuddin provinces, ordinary Iraqis say there is a spike in crime such as armed robbery perpetrated by individuals wearing military and police uniforms.
Hussein Ali, 25, from Keffah area in central Baghdad said, “Every day we hear about the theft and armed robbery in military uniforms and their victims are unarmed civilians. Uniformed gangs rob and kill citizens unchecked. The government is required to put an end to these violations and are responsible for everything that’s happening.”
He added, “These illegal armed militias are moving around freely in plain sight of security officers. They are dressed in military uniforms and driving cars with no plates. No one can speak with them or dared to stop them.”
Ali Jaber, 30, a government employee who lives in Fudhailiyah south of Baghdad, said, “These stores create a state of terror and fear among many and give a distorted picture of reality and the cultural history of the capital Baghdad ... for example, the eastern section of Baghdad, with its strategic location downtown, is supposed to be a prominent cultural center filled with art, many cinemas, theaters and bookshops. It shouldn’t be turned into a militarized zone.”
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