Babylon Movement

The Babylon Movement (Arabic: حركة بابليون) is a Chaldean Catholic 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 heads the party.[1][2][3] The party has close ties to the Badr Organization and IRGC.[4] Babylon Movement has been accused of illegal land seizures in the Nineveh Governorate and corruption.[5]

Babylon Brigade
كتائب بابليون
LeadersRayan al-Kildani
Allegiance Iraq
Group(s)
  • 50th Brigade[6]
Size1,000+[7]
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces
Allies
Opponents Islamic State
Nineveh Plain Protection Units
Battles and warsWar in Iraq (2013–2017)
Babylon Movement
LeaderRayan al-Kildani
Founded2014 (2014)
HeadquartersIraq
Military wingBabylon Brigade
ReligionChristian
Parliament
4 / 329 (1%)

History

The Babylon Movement entered the Iraqi parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018 and earned four seats after the 2021.

On July 18, 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the leader of the Babylon Brigades militia, Rayan Al-Kaldani, for alleged human rights violations.[10]

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.[11][12] 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.[2][3][1]

References
  1. وكالة انباء براثا. Archived 11 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  2. مقابلة النائب يونادم مع موقع الحركة الديمقراطية الاشورية. Archived 4 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 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. Retrieved 30 Aug 2019.
  5. "Inside Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church battle with Iran-backed Christian group". Al-Monitor. 22 July 2023.
  6. 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.
  7. Kaplan, Michael (July 13, 2015). "In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy'". IB Times. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  8. "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.
  9. Bennett-Jones, Owen (April 11, 2016). "The Christian militia fighting IS". BBC News. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  10. "Treasury Sanctions Persons Associated with Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corrupt Actors in Iraq". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. بيان البطريركية الكلدانية. Archived 9 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  12. قناة عشتار الفضائية. Archived 25 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine
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