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 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 Movement | |
---|---|
Leader | Rayan al-Kildani |
Founded | 2014 |
Headquarters | Iraq |
Military wing | Babylon Brigade |
Religion | Christian |
Parliament | 4 / 329 (1%)
|
Babylon Brigade | |
---|---|
كتائب بابليون | |
Leaders | Rayan al-Kildani |
Allegiance | Iraq |
Group(s) |
|
Size | 1,000+[7] |
Part of | Popular Mobilization Forces |
Allies | |
Opponents | Islamic State Nineveh Plain Protection Units |
Battles and wars | War in Iraq (2013–2017) |
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]
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]