The four presidencies agree to postpone the Popular Mobilization Forces Law to the next session.
The four presidencies agree to postpone the Popular Mobilization Forces Law to the next session.
2025-09-01 01:24
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Coordination Framework, which brings together Iraq’s ruling Shiite political forces, revealed on Monday that there is an agreement among the four presidencies to postpone the approval of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law and withdraw the draft law from parliament.
A member of the Coordination Framework, Adi al-Khadran, told Shafaq News Agency, “The last meeting of the four presidencies witnessed an agreement to postpone the passage of the Popular Mobilization Forces law and withdraw it from the House of Representatives, in order to maintain internal stability and prevent the country from becoming part of any escalation in the region.”
Al-Khadran added, “Postponing the approval of the Popular Mobilization Forces law means deferring it to the next parliament and the next Iraqi government, as they will be responsible for approving this law. Postponing the law at this time does not mean moving towards dissolving or dismantling the Popular Mobilization Forces. This has not and will not happen, no matter how much pressure there is and no matter what the desires, whether internal or external.”
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law has sparked widespread controversy due to divisions within the Shiite community over the institution’s structure and its future role. While the current formula aims to integrate the PMF into the Iraqi army with a gradual military command, some influential parties within the PMF oppose this approach.
US pressure was also a factor in the postponement. Washington considers the law to grant legitimacy to factions it classifies as “terrorist groups,” and fears it will strengthen the Popular Mobilization Forces’ independence from the official military establishment.
Discussion of the law is likely to continue in the next parliamentary session, with the possibility of resorting to political interest-sharing initiatives to facilitate its passage in the future.
It’s worth noting that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were established by government decree in mid-2014 in response to the “sufficiency jihad” fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani following the fall of Mosul. Thousands of fighters from Shiite armed factions, some of whom had existed prior to the fatwa, poured in as a result.
shafaq.com
