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Iraq
Qais Khazali leads a procession in Karbala during the Shiite holiday of Arbaeen. Photo via social media
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Four Iraqis, including two brothers, have been sanctioned by the US Treasury for alleged corruption and killing of innocent protesters in Iraq, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Friday.
Three of the sanctioned leaders are heads of Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF, Popular Mobilization Forces) units: Qais al-Khazali, his brother Laith al-Khazali, and Hashd al-Shaabi commander Hussein Falih Aziz al-Lami. All three men allegedly ordered the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters in different parts of Iraq.
Since the beginning of October, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets to demand an end to corruption, nepotism, and unemployment, among other issues gripping the oil resource-rich country. They have been met with deadly repression tactics, including the fire of live ammunition rounds and tear gas.
Qais al-Khazali, Secretary General of a PMF unit called Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and his older brother Laith al-Khazali have ordered militia members to open fire and use lethal weapons against protesters in many cities in Iraq.
Laith al-Khazali is also accused of human rights abuses against Sunnis in Diyala Province.
“In late 2015, Laith al-Khazali controlled efforts to remove Sunnis from areas of Diyala Province, including killings to drive Sunnis from the area,” the press release added on Friday.
Additionally, the brothers are accused of targeting and killing US soldiers in Iraq.
“Qais and Laith al-Khazali had leading roles in a January 2007 attack on an Iraqi government compound in Karbala. The attack killed five U.S. soldiers and wounded three.” the press release reads.
Finally, al-Lami, who is a senior Hashd al-Shaabi commander, was sanctioned for ordering the “assassinations and suppression” of the protesters in Baghdad.
“In late 2019, al-Lami was responsible for ordering the assassinations and suppression of protesters in Baghdad. Al-Lami directed militia fighters who shot protesters in early October 2019, a time when dozens of protesters were killed,” The press release reads.
In response to the violence enacted during the first wave of demonstrations, protesters upped the ante and demanded the overthrow of the current government, structural reforms to decrease the power of parliament and create a strong executive branch, and the amendment of the 2005 constitution.
The second wave of protests that began on October 25 has been marked by government security forces’ widespread practice of firing heavy, military-grade tear gas canisters directly at protesters. A number of protesters have died as a result of skull injuries incurred by the gas canisters.
The fourth Iraqi who has been sanctioned is the famous businessman and millionaire Khamis al-Khanjar. He is being sanctioned due to allegations of corruption and the use of his wealth to gain political support. Khanjar, the secretary general of the Arab Project party, has made millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Iraqi political figures in exchange for their support.
“Al-Khanjar is designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery,” the US Treasury Department said in a press release on Friday.
The US government has also accused Iran of interfering in Iraq’s affairs, including accusations that the Iranian government is behind the killing of innocent protesters.
Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin stated in the press release, “Iran’s attempts to suppress the legitimate demands of the Iraqi people for reform of their government through the slaughter of peaceful demonstrators is appalling.”
Around 400 protesters and members of the security forces have been killed since October 1, and more than 16,000 others have been wounded due to the clashes between security forces and protesters.
Following the high casualties reported from Iraq, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated during a press conference in Washington on November 19 that the US would impose sanctions on those found responsible for maiming and killing Iraqi protesters.
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