The US Treasury slapped sanctions on the leader of Iraq’s paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces Friday, saying he was connected to “serious human rights abuse.”
The Treasury said Faleh Fayyadh, head of the state-sponsored network of pro-Iran fighters, was responsible for brutal attacks on protesters in October 2019.
“By directing and supervising the murder of peaceful Iraqi demonstrators, Iran-aligned militants and politicians such as Faleh Fayyadh have been waging a violent campaign against Iraqi democracy and civil society,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
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The PMF — Hashed al-Shaabi in Arabic — has close ties to Tehran but is overseen by the Iraqi government, with Fayyadh its chairman and top commander.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Fayyadh was also the member of a “crisis cell” supported by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards, branded a terrorist organization by the United States.
By directing and supervising the murder of peaceful #Iraqi demonstrators, #Iran-aligned militants and politicians such as Falih al-Fayyadh have been waging a violent campaign against Iraqi democracy and civil society – Secretary Mnuchin
— Barzan Sadiq (@BarzanSadiq) January 8, 2021
“Iran-aligned (PMF) forces continue to wage a murderous campaign against political activists in Iraq who are calling for free and fair elections, respect for human rights, and transparent and accountable governance,” Pompeo said in a statement.
Fayyadh is one of the most senior Iraqi officials to be placed on the US sanctions blacklist.
He recently took part in public commemorations organized by Iraq on the one-year anniversary of the US killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani and Fayyadh’s Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
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The sanctions seek to freeze any assets a designated person has under US jurisdiction and bans American firms — including banks and other companies with US branches — from doing business with them.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk