Babylon Movement
Iraqi political party / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Christian 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]
Babylon Movement حركة بابليون | |
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Leader | Rayan al-Kildani |
Founded | 2014; 10 years ago (2014) |
Headquarters | Baghdad, Iraq |
Military wing | Babylon Brigade |
Religion | Syriac Christianity |
Parliament | 4 / 329 (1%) |
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 | |
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كتائب بابليون | |
Leaders | Rayan al-Kildani |
Allegiance | Iraq |
Group(s) |
|
Size | 1,000+[9] |
Part of | Popular Mobilization Forces |
Allies | |
Opponents | Islamic State Nineveh Plain Protection Units |
Battles and wars | War in Iraq (2013–2017) |