Sunni Arab claims their houses raided, equipment stolen by Iran-backed militias in Kirkuk
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Arab Sunni police officer in Kirkuk has warned of kidnappings and houses being raided at the hands of Iran-backed Shiite militias in Kirkuk.
“Seven kidnappings were documented just yesterday. These acts have turned Kirkuk into a city of gangs and kidnappings,” he told Rudaw, accusing the Shiite militias of raiding his house and confiscating his “precious contents of money and gold jewelry.”
He added that during the raid his “wife was subjected to sectarian insults by the Iraqi forces.”
He added that those who raided his home stole “$16,000 US dollars.”
Another member of the Domiz police in Kirkuk described the raid by the Iraqi armed forces as "terror”.
A Kurdish official earlier this week claimed that some 400 civilians were killed in Kirkuk and 200 others went missing after the military incursion of the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi was launched on the city of Kirkuk. He blamed the Hashd as largely responsible for most of the deaths and disappearances.
Karim Nuri, a commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi in Kirkuk, dismissed the claims, saying the Hashd was not involved in any "crimes against civilians in Kirkuk."
Nuri said that no single Hashd remains in Kirkuk.
The world’s main rights organizations such as the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have all voiced concerns about reported killings, kidnappings and mass displacement in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu as well as other areas at the hands of Shiite militias since October 16.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday, that Hashd al-Shaabi were Iraqi fighters, not "Iranian militias.”
Abadi said during the meeting with Tillerson, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister that "Hashd are Iraqi fighters who fought terrorism and defended their country.”
The city of Kirkuk and a series of other Kurdistani or disputed territories fell into the hands of the Iraqi armed forces, supported by Hashd al-Shaabi, beginning on October 16 and afterwards following the withdrawal of the Peshmerga.
“Seven kidnappings were documented just yesterday. These acts have turned Kirkuk into a city of gangs and kidnappings,” he told Rudaw, accusing the Shiite militias of raiding his house and confiscating his “precious contents of money and gold jewelry.”
"An armed force raided my brother's house and then broke into my house after tampering with all of its contents, stealing gold jewelry and money," the officer said.
He added that during the raid his “wife was subjected to sectarian insults by the Iraqi forces.”
He added that those who raided his home stole “$16,000 US dollars.”
He added that most of the incidents occurred in front of the eyes of the army and police or near their checkpoints, but officers and security personnel are often afraid to intervene because the executioners wear security uniforms and carry sophisticated automatic machine guns.
Another member of the Domiz police in Kirkuk described the raid by the Iraqi armed forces as "terror”.
A Kurdish official earlier this week claimed that some 400 civilians were killed in Kirkuk and 200 others went missing after the military incursion of the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi was launched on the city of Kirkuk. He blamed the Hashd as largely responsible for most of the deaths and disappearances.
Karim Nuri, a commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi in Kirkuk, dismissed the claims, saying the Hashd was not involved in any "crimes against civilians in Kirkuk."
Nuri said that no single Hashd remains in Kirkuk.
The world’s main rights organizations such as the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have all voiced concerns about reported killings, kidnappings and mass displacement in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu as well as other areas at the hands of Shiite militias since October 16.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday, that Hashd al-Shaabi were Iraqi fighters, not "Iranian militias.”
Abadi said during the meeting with Tillerson, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister that "Hashd are Iraqi fighters who fought terrorism and defended their country.”
The city of Kirkuk and a series of other Kurdistani or disputed territories fell into the hands of the Iraqi armed forces, supported by Hashd al-Shaabi, beginning on October 16 and afterwards following the withdrawal of the Peshmerga.