World

Iranian Militias Release Movie-Quality Video, Complete With Jesus Memorabilia To Assuage Concerns Over Extrajudicial Killings

Leader.ir/Handout/REUTERS

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
Font Size:

An Iranian-backed Shiite militia released a video Oct. 15 portraying themselves as saviors of Iraq’s Christian community in Mosul.

The video is particularly ironic because Shiite militias are famous in Iraq for sectarian slaughter. Their participation in the Iraqi campaign to retake territory from the Islamic State, has garnered significant scrutiny from human rights advocates.

Human Rights Watch noted possible war crimes by Shiite militias in January, 2016:

Members of Shia militias, who the Iraqi government has included among its state forces, abducted and killed scores of Sunni residents in a central Iraq town and demolished Sunni homes, stores, and mosques following January 11, 2016 bombings claimed by the extremist group Islamic State

Beyond sectarian slaughter, the militias are also accused of employing child soldiers on the battlefield. Human Rights Watch warned in August, 2016, that several eye-witnesses recounted seeing competing militias offering salaries, and carting young boys out of refugee camps in trucks to the battlefield. ISIS consistently uses child soldiers in Iraq and Syria, and prominently features child executioners in its propaganda videos.

During the U.S. backed effort to retake the city of Ramadi from ISIS, Iranian-backed militias played a key role in retaking the city. After retaking the city, the militias maintained a presence in the area and reportedly targeted Sunni civilians.

Follow Saagar Enjeti on Twitter

Send tips to saagar@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.