Babylon Movement
{{Short description|Iraqi political party}}
{{POV|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Babylon Movement
| native_name = ܙܘܥܐ ܕܒܒܠ
حركة بابليون
بزووتنەوەی بابل
| native_name_lang = ar
| colorcode = {{Party colour|Babylon Movement}}
| leader = Rayan al-Kildani
| foundation = {{start date and age|2014}}
| headquarters = Baghdad, Iraq
| country = Iraq
| wing1_title = Military wing
| wing1 = Babylon Brigade
| religion = Syriac Christianity (official)
Shia Islam (de-facto)
| seats1_title = Parliament
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|4|329|hex={{Party colour|Babylon Movement}}|per=1}}
}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Babylon Brigade
| native_name = كتائب بابليون
| native_name_lang = ar
| logo = Chaldean flag.svg
| war = War in Iraq (2013–2017)
| caption = Chaldean flag used by Babylon Brigade
| active =
| ideology =
| position =
| leaders = Rayan al-Kildani
| headquarters =
| area =
| partof = {{flagicon image|Al hashd al shaabi 379865.jpg}} Popular Mobilization Forces
| allegiance = {{IRQ}}
| allies = {{tree list}}
- {{IRN}}
- {{flag|Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|name=IRGC}}
- {{flagicon image|Flag of Quds Force.svg}} Quds Force{{Cite web|url=https://alhadeel.net/article/71277|title=الهديل - الهديل- تعرّف على أبرز فصائل الحشد الشّعبي... هذا هو تعدادها وأبرز قادتها|access-date=2020-09-06|archive-date=2020-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906102726/https://alhadeel.net/article/71277|url-status=dead}}
- {{flagicon image|Flag of Shabak Democratic Party.svg}} Quwwat Sahl Ninawa
{{tree list/end}}
| opponents = {{flag|Islamic State}}
{{flagicon image|Emblem of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.svg}} Nineveh Plain Protection Units
| battles = {{tree list}}
- War in Iraq (2013–2017)
- Battle of Mosul (2016–2017){{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35998716 | title = The Christian militia fighting IS | last = Bennett-Jones | first = Owen | date = April 11, 2016 | website = BBC News | access-date = August 20, 2020 | archive-date = July 15, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180715002648/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35998716 | url-status = live }}
{{tree list/end}}
| website =
}}
The Babylon Movement ({{langx|ar|حركة بابليون}}, {{langx|syr|ܙܘܥܐ ܕܒܒܠ}}) is a political party situated in Iraq. Founded in 2014, it is the political wing of the Babylon Brigades, a militia that was formed as part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces. Rayan al-Kildani currently leads the party since founding it in 2014.
The party, through its incorporation into the Popular Mobilization Forces, has close ties to the Badr Organization and IRGC.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iraq-parliament-christians-badr-organization_n_5b05dfd0e4b07c4ea104961f|title=A Mostly Non-Christian Militia Won 2 Of Iraqi Christians' Parliamentary Seats|work=HuffPost|date=23 May 2018|access-date=30 Aug 2019|archive-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830183240/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/iraq-parliament-christians-badr-organization_n_5b05dfd0e4b07c4ea104961f|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web |first= |date=22 July 2023 |title=Inside Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church battle with Iran-backed Christian group |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/07/inside-iraqs-chaldean-catholic-church-battle-iran-backed-christian-group |website=Al-Monitor |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724111613/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/07/inside-iraqs-chaldean-catholic-church-battle-iran-backed-christian-group |url-status=live }}{{cite web|language=en|title=Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor: JULY 11 – JULY 18, 2019|url=https://enablingpeace.org/ishm213/#Headline1|website=Enabling Peace in Iraq Center|date=18 July 2019 }} 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
History
The Babylon Movement was founded in 2014, initially as a militia group in order to defend the Nineveh Plains from the onset of ISIS. The movement had been the only Christian component of the Popular Mobilization Forces, and had about 1000 fighters.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/iraq-christian-militia-battles-islamic-state-militants-isis-terrorists-are-our-enemy-2005827|title=In Iraq, Christian Militia Battles Islamic State Militants: 'ISIS Terrorists Are Our Enemy'|website=ibtimes|date=2015-07-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-uncovered/iraqi-christians-fighting-isis-form-babylonian-brigades-militia-n387376|title=Iraqi Christians Form Babylonian Brigades Militia, Battle ISIS|website=NBC News|date=12 July 2015}} The brigade had taken part in the large scale defense of the Nineveh governorate with the Battle of Mosul, and helped to liberate the city from ISIS.
The Babylon Movement entered the Iraqi parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2018, however they weren't able to attain any results until 2021. Allegations have been leveled towards al-Kildani regarding vote corruption in the attainment of these seats in the election.{{cite web|url=https://syriacpress.com/blog/2021/10/20/former-syriac-member-of-iraqi-parliament-joseph-sliwa-on-iraqi-election-results-the-five-winners-of-christian-quota-seats-do-not-represent-christians/|title=Former Syriac Member of Iraqi Parliament Joseph Sliwa on Iraqi election results: The five 'winners' of Christian quota seats do not represent Christians|website=Syriac Press|date=20 October 2021}} He obtained similar results in the 2023 Iraqi governorate elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/babiliyoun-movement-hijacks-all-four-christian-minority-seats|title=Babiliyoun Movement Hijacks All Four Christian Minority Seats|website=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|date=2 January 2024}}
On July 18, 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the al-Kildani for alleged human rights violations, including harassment and blackmailing of women and illegal land seizures.{{Cite web |date=18 July 2019 |title=Treasury Sanctions Persons Associated with Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corrupt Actors in Iraq |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm735 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111085523/https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm735 |url-status=live }}
Relations with the Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrians
{{Further|Rayan al-Kildani}}
The Chaldean Catholic Church issued a statement confirming that it has nothing to do with the Babylon Brigades, nor Rayan as its leader or its members in the Iraqi parliament, and that it doesn't represent them.[http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ بيان البطريركية الكلدانية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009212546/http://saint-adday.com/?p=11625/ |date=9 October 2016}}[http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html/ قناة عشتار الفضائية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725200615/http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,68638.html |date=25 July 2016}} The Babylon Movement has previously engaged in public spouts with Cardinal Sako of the church, with both sides accusing each other of stealing properties for the benefit of themselves and/or their respective organization.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/feud-patriarch-militia-leader-adds-woes-iraqi-christians-102008636|title=A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians|website=abcnews|date=4 August 2023}} The church has since distanced itself from the Babylon Movement and Rayan.
However, Archbishop Bashar Warda, a prominent leader within the Chaldean Catholic Church, continues to express unwavering support for the Babylon Movement, despite the well-documented record of severe human rights abuses by the group. This alliance has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Cardinal Louis Sako, who accuses Warda of acting as the Godfather of the Babylon Movement and prioritizing benefits from Rayan al-Kildani over the protection of church interests.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=J. D. |title=Iraq's feuding bishops |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/iraqs-feuding-bishops |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=The Pillar |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2022 |title=A Babylonian delegation receives the Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil Bashar Warda |url=https://www.alsharqiya.com/en/news/a-babylonian-delegation-receives-the-chaldean-archbishop-of-erbil-bashar-warda}}
It was also denied by Assyrian Christian MPs such as Imad Youkhana and Yonadam Kanna, where the representatives stated that the Babylon Brigades and their leader do not represent Christians, that Rayan himself is far from Christianity and the battalions led by him represent him personally.[http://www.zowaa.org/index.php/ مقابلة النائب يونادم مع موقع الحركة الديمقراطية الاشورية.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804032845/http://www.zowaa.org/index.php? |date=4 August 2017}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo/ مقابلة النائب يونادم كنا على قناة الشرقية نيوز.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314101438/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZbpXOkvAo |date=14 مارس 2020}}[http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882/ وكالة انباء براثا.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111200552/http://mail.burathanews.com/arabic/news/270882 |date=11 November 2016}} The movement has been implicated in several instances of prior human rights violations against Assyrians, including looting of villages, kidnapping of members of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, and the Bakhdida wedding fire.{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/rayan-al-kildani-faces-election-backlash-months-after-wedding-hall-fire |last=Beth-Addai |first=Yacoub |title=Rayan al-Kildani Faces Election Backlash in the Months After Wedding Hall Fire |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |access-date=14 May 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/nineveh-plains-christians-defend-against-babiliyoun-militia |last=Beth-Addai |first=Yacoub |title=Nineveh Plains Christians Defend Against the Babiliyoun Militia |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |access-date=14 May 2024}}
The Babylon Movement has also been noted for its hijacking of Assyrian political representation in Iraq. In 2024, al-Kildani instituted a mass change of political leadership in the Nineveh Plains with Babylon Movement proxies, replacing 15 leaders appointed by the Kurdish-backed Nineveh Provincial Council.{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-linked-militia-leader-wresting-control-of-iraq-s-ninevah-plains-after-is-defeat/7769873.html |last=Gavlak |first=Dale |title=Iran-linked militia leader wresting control of Iraq's Ninevah Plains after IS defeat |publisher=VOA News |access-date=11 September 2024}} Previous elections in 2021{{cite web |date=20 October 2021 |title=Former Syriac Member of Iraqi Parliament Joseph Sliwa on Iraqi election results: The five 'winners' of Christian quota seats do not represent Christians |url=https://syriacpress.com/blog/2021/10/20/former-syriac-member-of-iraqi-parliament-joseph-sliwa-on-iraqi-election-results-the-five-winners-of-christian-quota-seats-do-not-represent-christians/ |website=Syriac Press}} and the takeover of NPU in 2023{{cite web |last=Beth-Addai |first=Yacoub |title=Nineveh Plains Christians Defend Against the Babiliyoun Militia |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/nineveh-plains-christians-defend-against-babiliyoun-militia |access-date=14 May 2024 |publisher=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy}} have been condemned and criticized, and the Babylon Movement as well as Rayan and his affiliated remain deeply unpopular among Assyrians in Iraq.{{Cite web |title=Babylon Brigade Plans to Rig 2025 Voting in Christian Areas {{!}} The Washington Institute |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/babylon-brigade-plans-rig-2025-voting-christian-areas |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.washingtoninstitute.org |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Popular Mobilization Forces}}
{{Iraqi political parties}}
{{Assyrian political parties}}
Category:2014 establishments in Iraq
Category:Political parties established in 2014
Category:Political parties in Iraq
Category:Political parties of minorities in Iraq
Category:Assyrian political parties
Category:Christian democratic parties in Asia