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{{Short description|Chaldean Catholic political party}}
{{Short description|Iraqi political party}}
{{POV|date=January 2022}}
{{POV|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Babylon Movement
| name = Babylon Movement
| colorcode = #0241AB
| native_name = حركة بابليون
| native_name_lang = ar
⚫
| leader = Rayan al-Kildani
| colorcode = {{Party colour|Babylon Movement}}
⚫
| leader = [[Rayan al-Kildani]]
⚫
| logo =
| caption =
| foundation = {{start date and age|2014}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2014}}
| headquarters = Iraq
| headquarters = [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]
⚫
| country = Iraq
| wing1_title = Military wing
| wing1_title = Military wing
| wing1 = Babylon Brigade
| wing1 = Babylon Brigade
| religion = [[Christianity|Christian]]
| religion = [[Shia Islam]]
| seats1_title = [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Parliament]]
| seats1_title = [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Parliament]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|4|329|hex=#0241AB|per=1}}
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|4|329|hex={{Party colour|Babylon Movement}}|per=1}}
}}
}}


The '''Babylon Movement''' ({{lang-ar|حركة بابليون}}){{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} is a [[Chaldean Catholics|Chaldean Catholic]] political party situated in [[Iraq]]. Founded in 2014, it is the political wing of the Babylon Brigades, a nominally Christian militia that was formed as part of Iraq's [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]. Rayan al-Kildani, a Chaldean Catholic with close ties to the [[Badr Organization]] and [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iraq-parliament-christians-badr-organization_n_5b05dfd0e4b07c4ea104961f|title=A Mostly Non-Christian Militia Won 2 Of Iraqi Christians' Parliamentary Seats |work=HuffPost|date=23 May 2018 |access-date=30 Aug 2019}}</ref> heads both the party and militia.
The '''Babylon Movement''' ({{lang-ar|حركة بابليون}}) is a political party situated in [[Iraq]]. Founded in 2014, it is the political wing of the Babylon Brigades, a Shia Muslim militia that was formed as part of Iraq's [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]. [[Rayan al-Kildani]] currently leads the party since founding it in 2014.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

The party, through its incorporation into the Popular Mobilization Forces, has close ties to the [[Badr Organization]] and [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iraq-parliament-christians-badr-organization_n_5b05dfd0e4b07c4ea104961f|title=A Mostly Non-Christian Militia Won 2 Of Iraqi Christians' Parliamentary Seats|work=HuffPost|date=23 May 2018|access-date=30 Aug 2019|archive-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830183240/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iraq-parliament-christians-badr-organization_n_5b05dfd0e4b07c4ea104961f|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the defeat of ISIS, the Babylon Movement has been accused a multitude of human rights abuses, including illegal land seizures in the [[Nineveh Governorate]] and election corruption.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=22 July 2023 |title=Inside Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church battle with Iran-backed Christian group |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/07/inside-iraqs-chaldean-catholic-church-battle-iran-backed-christian-group |website=Al-Monitor |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724111613/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/07/inside-iraqs-chaldean-catholic-church-battle-iran-backed-christian-group |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|language=en|title=Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor: JULY 11 – JULY 18, 2019|url=https://enablingpeace.org/ishm213/#Headline1|website=Enabling Peace in Iraq Center}}</ref> While the party claims to represent the interests of [[Iraqi Christians]], primarily the [[Assyrian people]], a majority of the party's voters and members are Shia Muslim, since a ruling in 2009 designated that any Iraqi could vote for designated minority seats.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://bitterwinter.org/iraq-beware-of-rayan-al-kildani-and-his-christian-babylon-movement-2/|title=Iraq: Beware of Rayan al-Kildani and his “Christian” Babylon Movement|work= Bitter Winter |date=27 September 2023 }}</ref>


{{Infobox war faction
{{Infobox war faction
Line 21: Line 26:
| native_name = كتائب بابليون
| native_name = كتائب بابليون
| native_name_lang = ar
| native_name_lang = ar
⚫
| logo = Chaldean flag.svg
| war = [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
| war = [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
| image = Chaldean flag.svg
| caption = [[Chaldean flag]] used by Babylon Brigade
⚫
| caption = Chaldean flag used by Babylon Brigades
| active =
| active =
| ideology =
| ideology =
Line 31: Line 36:
| headquarters =
| headquarters =
| area =
| area =
| size = 1,000+<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-christian-militia-battles-islamic-state-militants-isis-terrorists-are-our-enemy-2005827 | title = In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy' | last = Kaplan | first = Michael | date = July 13, 2015 | website = IB Times | access-date = August 20, 2020}}</ref>
| size = 1,000+<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-christian-militia-battles-islamic-state-militants-isis-terrorists-are-our-enemy-2005827 | title = In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy' | last = Kaplan | first = Michael | date = July 13, 2015 | website = IB Times | access-date = August 20, 2020 | archive-date = November 8, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108144024/https://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-christian-militia-battles-islamic-state-militants-isis-terrorists-are-our-enemy-2005827 | url-status = live }}</ref>
| partof = {{flagicon image|}} [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]
| partof = {{flagicon image|}} [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]
| allegiance = {{IRQ}}
| allegiance = {{IRQ}}
| allies = *{{IRN}}
| allies = *{{IRN}}
**{{flag|Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|name=IRGC}}
**{{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg}} [[IRGC]]
***{{flagicon image|Flag of Quds Force.svg}} [[Quds Force]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alhadeel.net/article/71277|title = الهديل - الهديل- تعرّف على أبرز فصائل الحشد الشّعبي... هذا هو تعدادها وأبرز قادتها}}</ref>
***{{flagicon image|Flag of Quds Force.svg}} [[Quds Force]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alhadeel.net/article/71277|title=الهديل - الهديل- تعرّف على أبرز فصائل الحشد الشّعبي... هذا هو تعدادها وأبرز قادتها|access-date=2020-09-06|archive-date=2020-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906102726/https://alhadeel.net/article/71277|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Shabak Democratic Party.svg}} [[Shabak Militia|Quwwat Sahl Ninawa]]<ref name="numbers" />
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Shabak Democratic Party.svg}} [[Shabak Militia|Quwwat Sahl Ninawa]]<ref name="numbers" />
| opponents = {{flag|Islamic State}}
| opponents = {{flag|Islamic State}}<br>{{flagicon image|Emblem of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.svg}} [[Nineveh Plain Protection Units]]
| battles = [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
| battles = [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
* [[Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35998716 | title = The Christian militia fighting IS | last = Bennett-Jones | first = Owen | date = April 11, 2016 | website = BBC News | access-date = August 20, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35998716 | title = The Christian militia fighting IS | last = Bennett-Jones | first = Owen | date = April 11, 2016 | website = BBC News | access-date = August 20, 2020 | archive-date = July 15, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180715002648/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35998716 | url-status = live }}</ref>
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


==History==
==History==
The Babylon Movement was founded in 2014, initially as a militia group in order to defend the Nineveh Plains from the onset of ISIS. His movement had been the only Christian component of the Popular Mobilization Forces, and had about 1000 fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-christian-militia-battles-islamic-state-militants-isis-terrorists-are-our-enemy-2005827|title=In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy'|website=ibtimes|date=2015-07-13}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-uncovered/iraqi-christians-fighting-isis-form-babylonian-brigades-militia-n387376|title=Iraqi Christians Form Babylonian Brigades Militia, Battle ISIS|website=NBC News|date=12 July 2015}}</ref> The brigade had taken part in the large scale defense of the [[Nineveh governorate]] with the [[Battle of Mosul (2016–2017)|Battle of Mosul]], and helped to liberate the city from ISIS.
The Babylon Movement entered the [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Iraqi parliamentary]] elections in [[2014 Iraqi parliamentary election|2014]] and [[2018 Iraqi parliamentary election|2018]] as a movement claiming to be a representative of Iraq's Christian community. With a few thousand votes, [[Christianity in Iraq|Christians in Iraq]] considered this list as strange and intrusive and its sudden appearance without any history or previous achievements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albadeeliraq.com:80/node/1236 |title=الأحزاب الشيعية والكردية استولت على ثلثي مقاعد كوتا الأقليات العراقية &#124; البديل العراقي |website=www.albadeeliraq.com:80 |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808111311/http://www.albadeeliraq.com:80/node/1236 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ishtartv.com:80/viewarticle,52359.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181017065715/http://www.ishtartv.com:80/viewarticle,52359.html|archive-date = 2018-10-17|title = النتائج الاولية المتوقعة لقوائم كوتا شعبنا الستة في انتخابات برلمان العراق}}</ref>

The Babylon Movement entered the [[Council of Representatives of Iraq|Iraqi parliamentary]] elections in [[2014 Iraqi parliamentary election|2014]] and [[2018 Iraqi parliamentary election|2018]], however they weren't able to attain any results until [[2021 Iraqi parliamentary election|2021]]. Allegations have been leveled towards al-Kildani regarding vote corruption in the attainment of these seats in the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://syriacpress.com/blog/2021/10/20/former-syriac-member-of-iraqi-parliament-joseph-sliwa-on-iraqi-election-results-the-five-winners-of-christian-quota-seats-do-not-represent-christians/|title=Former Syriac Member of Iraqi Parliament Joseph Sliwa on Iraqi election results: The five ‘winners’ of Christian quota seats do not represent Christians|website=Syriac Press|date=20 October 2021}}</ref> He obtained similar results in the [[2023 Iraqi governorate elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/babiliyoun-movement-hijacks-all-four-christian-minority-seats|title=Babiliyoun Movement Hijacks All Four Christian Minority Seats|website=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

On July 18, 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the al-Kildani for alleged human rights violations, including harassment and blackmailing of women and illegal land seizures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2019 |title=Treasury Sanctions Persons Associated with Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corrupt Actors in Iraq |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm735 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=[[U.S. Department of the Treasury]] |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111085523/https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm735 |url-status=live }}</ref>


⚫
==Relations with the Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrians==
According to a report<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraq's Stolen Election: How Assyrian Representation Became Assyrian Repression |url=https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6ae567_ed6e9fcea6c2415583c27b464807ebbb.pdf}}</ref> from the [[Assyrian Policy Institute]], the Babylon Movement is a fringe group with little ties to the Christian community in Iraq.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hanna |first1=Reine |last2=Barber |first2=Matthew Travis |date=2017-01-01 |title=Erasing Assyrians: How the KRG Abuses Human Rights, Undermines Democracy, and Conquers Minority Homelands |url=https://www.academia.edu/34684148 |journal=Assyrian Confederation of Europe}}</ref> It is pro-[[Iran]] and is a proxy of the Shia Arab dominated [[Badr Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Hollie |date=2017-12-10 |title=Under threat? Iran's quiet infiltration over Iraqi Christian communities |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/under-threat-irans-quiet-infiltration-over-iraqi-christian-communities |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> Its affiliated [[militia]], the Babylon Brigades (or Brigade 50), was founded by the Iranian-controlled [[Kata'ib al-Imam Ali|Kata’ib al-Imam Ali]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iranian Militias in Iraq's Parliament: Political Outcomes and U.S. Response |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/iranian-militias-iraqs-parliament-political-outcomes-and-us-response |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Washington Institute |language=en}}</ref> While it is often presented as a [[Chaldean Catholics|Chaldean Catholic]] and [[Christians|Christian]] force, it is composed mainly of [[Shia Islam|Shia]] [[Arabs|Arab]] and [[Shabaks|Shabak]] soldiers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Confidence- and Security-Building Measures in the Nineveh Plains |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/confidence-and-security-building-measures-nineveh-plains |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Washington Institute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalian |first=Yousif |date=2017-12-21 |title=Iran's Inroads into Christian Iraq |url=https://www.the-american-interest.com/2017/12/21/irans-inroads-christian-iraq/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The American Interest |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{See|Rayan al-Kildani}}
The [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] issued a statement confirming that it has nothing to do with the Babylon Brigades, nor al-Kildani as its leader or its members in the [[Iraqi parliament]], and that it doesn't represent them.<ref>[http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ بيان البطريركية الكلدانية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009212546/http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ |date=9 October 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html/ قناة عشتار الفضائية.] {{dead link|date= December 2017 |bot=JarBot}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725200615/http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html |date=25 July 2016}}</ref> The Babylon Movement has previously engaged in public spouts with [[Louis Sako|Cardinal Sako]] of the church, with both sides accusing each other of stealing properties for the benefit of themselves and/or their respective organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/feud-patriarch-militia-leader-adds-woes-iraqi-christians-102008636|title=A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians|website=abcnews|date=4 August 2023}}</ref>


It was also denied by Assyrian Christian MPs such as Imad Youkhana and [[Yonadam Kanna]], where the representatives stated that the Babylon Brigades and their leader do not represent Christians, that Rayan himself is far from Christianity and the battalions led by him represent him personally.<ref name=":1">[http://www.zowaa.org/index.php/ مقابلة النائب يونادم مع موقع الحركة الديمقراطية الاشورية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804032845/http://www.zowaa.org/index.php? |date=4 August 2017}}</ref><ref name=":2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo/ مقابلة النائب يونادم كنا على قناة الشرقية نيوز.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314101438/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo |date=14 مارس 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">[http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882/ وكالة انباء براثا.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111200552/http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882 |date=11 November 2016}}</ref> The movement has been implicated in several instances of prior human rights violations against Assyrians, including looting of villages, kidnapping of members of the [[Nineveh Plain Protection Units]], and the [[Qaraqosh wedding fire|Bakhdida wedding fire]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/rayan-al-kildani-faces-election-backlash-months-after-wedding-hall-fire |last=Beth-Addai |first=Yacoub |title=Rayan al-Kildani Faces Election Backlash in the Months After Wedding Hall Fire |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/nineveh-plains-christians-defend-against-babiliyoun-militia |last=Beth-Addai |first=Yacoub |title=Nineveh Plains Christians Defend Against the Babiliyoun Militia |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref>
⚫
==Relations with the Chaldean Catholic Church==
The [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] issued a statement confirming that it has nothing to do with the Babylon Brigades, nor its leader, Rayan Al-Kaldani, nor does it represent them, and that its official representatives are members of the Iraqi Parliament only.<ref>[http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ بيان البطريركية الكلدانية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009212546/http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ |date=9 October 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html/ قناة عشتار الفضائية.] {{dead link|date= December 2017 |bot=JarBot}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725200615/http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html |date=25 July 2016}}</ref> It was also denied by Christian members of the Iraqi Parliament, including Imad Youkhana and [[Yonadam Kanna]], where the representatives stated that the Babylon Brigades and their leader do not represent Christians, and the battalions led by him represent him personally, and he is far from Christianity, completely against it, and does not represent it.<ref>[http://www.zowaa.org/index.php/ مقابلة النائب يونادم مع موقع الحركة الديمقراطية الاشورية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804032845/http://www.zowaa.org/index.php? |date=4 August 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo/ مقابلة النائب يونادم كنا على قناة الشرقية نيوز.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314101438/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo |date=14 مارس 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882/ وكالة انباء براثا.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111200552/http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882 |date=11 November 2016}}</ref>


==Sanctions==
==See also==
*[[Popular Mobilization Forces]]
On July 18, 2019, the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury Department]] sanctioned the leader of the Babylon Brigades militia, Rayan Al-Kaldani, for committing grave human rights violations.<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Edward |date=18 July 2019 |title=U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Iraqi Militia Leaders and Ex-Governors |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/us/politics/us-sanctions-iraq.html |access-date=30 Aug 2019}}</ref><ref name="home.treasury.gov">[https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm735] U.S. Dept. of Treasury press release.</ref><ref name="alghadeer.tv">[http://www.alghadeer.tv/news/detail/40177/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009185723/http://www.alghadeer.tv/news/detail/40177/|date=2016-10-09}}, alghadeer.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 18, 2019|title=U.S. imposes sanctions on four Iraqis over human rights and corruption|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-sanctions-iraq-idUSKCN1UD2BI|url-status=live|website=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718193210/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-sanctions-iraq-idUSKCN1UD2BI |archive-date=2019-07-18 }}</ref>
*[[Badr Organization]]


==References==
==References==
Line 71: Line 82:
[[Category:Iraqi Christians]]
[[Category:Iraqi Christians]]
[[Category:Syriac Christianity]]
[[Category:Syriac Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian organizations]]

Latest revision as of 09:01, 17 June 2024

Babylon Movement
حركة بابليون
LeaderRayan al-Kildani
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
HeadquartersBaghdad, Iraq
Military wingBabylon Brigade
ReligionShia Islam
Parliament
4 / 329 (1%)

The Babylon Movement (Arabic: حركة بابليون) is a political party situated in Iraq. Founded in 2014, it is the political wing of the Babylon Brigades, a Shia Muslim militia that was formed as part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces. Rayan al-Kildani currently leads the party since founding it in 2014.[1][2][3]

The party, through its incorporation into the Popular Mobilization Forces, has close ties to the Badr Organization and IRGC.[4] Since the defeat of ISIS, the Babylon Movement has been accused a multitude of human rights abuses, including illegal land seizures in the Nineveh Governorate and election corruption.[5] [6] While the party claims to represent the interests of Iraqi Christians, primarily the Assyrian people, a majority of the party's voters and members are Shia Muslim, since a ruling in 2009 designated that any Iraqi could vote for designated minority seats.[7]

Babylon Brigade
كتائب بابليون
LeadersRayan al-Kildani
Allegiance Iraq
Group(s)
  • 50th Brigade[8]
Size1,000+[9]
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces
Allies
Opponents Islamic State
Nineveh Plain Protection Units
Battles and warsWar in Iraq (2013–2017)

History[edit]

The Babylon Movement was founded in 2014, initially as a militia group in order to defend the Nineveh Plains from the onset of ISIS. His movement had been the only Christian component of the Popular Mobilization Forces, and had about 1000 fighters.[12] [13] The brigade had taken part in the large scale defense of the Nineveh governorate with the Battle of Mosul, and helped to liberate the city from ISIS.

The Babylon Movement entered the Iraqi parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018, however they weren't able to attain any results until 2021. Allegations have been leveled towards al-Kildani regarding vote corruption in the attainment of these seats in the election.[14] He obtained similar results in the 2023 Iraqi governorate elections.[15]

On July 18, 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the al-Kildani for alleged human rights violations, including harassment and blackmailing of women and illegal land seizures.[16]

Relations with the Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrians[edit]

Further information: Rayan al-Kildani

The Chaldean Catholic Church issued a statement confirming that it has nothing to do with the Babylon Brigades, nor al-Kildani as its leader or its members in the Iraqi parliament, and that it doesn't represent them.[17][18] The Babylon Movement has previously engaged in public spouts with Cardinal Sako of the church, with both sides accusing each other of stealing properties for the benefit of themselves and/or their respective organization.[19]

It was also denied by Assyrian Christian MPs such as Imad Youkhana and Yonadam Kanna, where the representatives stated that the Babylon Brigades and their leader do not represent Christians, that Rayan himself is far from Christianity and the battalions led by him represent him personally.[2][3][1] The movement has been implicated in several instances of prior human rights violations against Assyrians, including looting of villages, kidnapping of members of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, and the Bakhdida wedding fire.[20] [21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b وكالة انباء براثا. Archived 11 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b مقابلة النائب يونادم مع موقع الحركة الديمقراطية الاشورية. Archived 4 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b مقابلة النائب يونادم كنا على قناة الشرقية نيوز. Archived 2020-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "A Mostly Non-Christian Militia Won 2 Of Iraqi Christians' Parliamentary Seats". HuffPost. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 Aug 2019.
  5. ^ "Inside Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church battle with Iran-backed Christian group". Al-Monitor. 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor: JULY 11 – JULY 18, 2019". Enabling Peace in Iraq Center.
  7. ^ "Iraq: Beware of Rayan al-Kildani and his "Christian" Babylon Movement". Bitter Winter. 27 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (October 31, 2017). "Hashd Brigade Numbers Index". Rubin Center. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Kaplan, Michael (July 13, 2015). "In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy'". IB Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  10. ^ "الهديل - الهديل- تعرّف على أبرز فصائل الحشد الشّعبي... هذا هو تعدادها وأبرز قادتها". Archived from the original on 2020-09-06. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  11. ^ Bennett-Jones, Owen (April 11, 2016). "The Christian militia fighting IS". BBC News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy'". ibtimes. 2015-07-13.
  13. ^ "Iraqi Christians Form Babylonian Brigades Militia, Battle ISIS". NBC News. 12 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Former Syriac Member of Iraqi Parliament Joseph Sliwa on Iraqi election results: The five 'winners' of Christian quota seats do not represent Christians". Syriac Press. 20 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Babiliyoun Movement Hijacks All Four Christian Minority Seats". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Persons Associated with Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corrupt Actors in Iraq". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  17. ^ بيان البطريركية الكلدانية. Archived 9 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ قناة عشتار الفضائية. [dead link] Archived 25 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians". abcnews. 4 August 2023.
  20. ^ Beth-Addai, Yacoub. "Rayan al-Kildani Faces Election Backlash in the Months After Wedding Hall Fire". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  21. ^ Beth-Addai, Yacoub. "Nineveh Plains Christians Defend Against the Babiliyoun Militia". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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