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Popular Movement in Iraq
الحراك الشعبي في العراق
SpokespersonSheikh Mohammed Taha al-Hamdoun
Founded2011
Military wingIslamic Army in Iraq[1]
IdeologySunni interests
Iraqi nationalism
Federalism
Seats in the Council of Representatives:
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Seats in the Governorate Councils:
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The Popular Movement in Iraq (Arabic: الحراك الشعبي في العراق) or the Sunni Popular Movement, or just Popular Movement, or Hirak is a Sunni political movement in Iraq. The spokesperson for the movement is Sheikh Mohammed Taha al-Hamdoun.[2]

Founding

The movement was founded in Samarra at the end of 2011 by the Islamic Army in Iraq, which demobilized following the US withdrawal from Iraq.[3] The IAI had been largely weakened by individuals leaving the group and instead joining the various Sahwa militias.[3] The groups turn away from armed opposition towards activism was criticised by other militant groups, such as Jaysh al-Mujihadeen.[3]

Activity

The movement was involved in the 2012–14 Iraqi protests, particularly in Fallujah, which was also the focus of groups such as al-Qaeda and the Ba'athist Free Iraq Intifada.[1]

The movement is opposed to the government of Nouri al-Maliki, and fighters aligned with the movement have been active in the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive.[2] The movement accuses the government of Nouri al-Maliki of oppressing Sunni's and aims to topple Maliki's government and replace it with a unity government.[4] The movement has also called for a decentralized Iraq with autonomous Sunni regions.[4] The group has also called for Sunni lawmakers to boycott a 1 July 2014 parliamentary meeting to elect a new President and Government of Iraq.[4]

The movement is opposed to ISIS and claims that whilst ISIS has international ambitions, the Popular Movement desires only to defend the rights of Sunni's in Iraq.[4] Hamdoun, the movement's spokesperson, has instead claimed that ISIS only constitutes 3,000 foreign fighters, or 10% of the total number of fighters opposing the Iraqi government, and is incapable of controlling Northern Iraq by itself.[4] Hamdoun has also claimed that they will fight ISIS after the fall of the Maliki government.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Understanding Iraq’s Protest Movements, An Interview With Kirk H. Sowell, Editor of Inside Iraqi Politics
  2. ^ a b c "Sunni fighters eye Baghdad as Kerry calls for unity". BBC News. 24 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b c al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (1 July 2014). "Iraq crisis: Key players in Sunni rebellion". BBC News.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Iraqi Sunnis call for autonomy in decentralized Iraq". Journal of Turkish Weekly. 30 June 2014.
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