Shiareligiousfigure

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Thursday it would summon the Turkish ambassador to hand him an official letter of protest at remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan critical of Iraqi paramilitary groups fighting the Islamic State. Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesperson of al-Hashd al-Shaabi , said the remarks are “a violation against an Iraqi security institution” that is “recognized by the parliament and the state”. Al-Hashd al-Shaabi was formed by a decree from Iraq’s top Shia clergy in 2014 to combat the Islamic State militants who took over many regions of Iraq.It won parliament recognition as a national armed force late 2016. The militia, an alliance of more than 60 groups, is currently engaged in fighting against ISIS on the side of the Iraqi government forces, and its expected involvement in the liberation of areas inhabited by Sunnis and Turkmen has aroused international and local fears of sectarian twists. United Nations agencies have occasionally said PMUs were involved in human rights violations during their battles against IS. The Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi fervently defends al-Hashd against criticisms. Earlier in April, Abadi vowed to “cut the hands” of whoever defames al-Hashd al-Shaabi. “They volunteered to defend Iraq and its people based on a fatwa by the clergy”, he said during an event marking the passing of a senior Shia religious figure.