Apr 23, 2015

BAGHDAD — Soon after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the liberation of Tikrit from the Islamic State (IS) March 31, stories began circulating about alleged acts of arson and looting of houses and stores by members of the predominantly Shiite volunteer militias of the Popular Mobilization Units. The nature of war against a fierce enemy facilitates gossip and rumors, so the stories are often conflicting, leaving Iraqis divided over the matter.

Some charge that the events are false allegations being used to destroy the image of the Shiite militias, which along with Iraqi army forces fought street battles in liberating Tikrit. Adnan al-Asadi, a parliamentarian from the State of Law Coalition, believes this to be the case, claiming in a press release April 5 that “accomplices in terrorism are spreading such stories.”

Other Iraqis, however, think the stories are factual in revealing the conduct of the units. Among those who believe they committed the alleged acts are Tikrit tribal members, some of whom issued a statement April 5 charging that the “militias have burned 400 shops in Tikrit.”

Ahmed al-Karim, head of the Salahuddin Provincial Council, claimed in an April 3 statement, “Shiite fighters continue to loot and burn buildings in Tikrit city.” On April 4, the Salahuddin tribes demanded that the units withdraw from the province. They also accused Iranian militias of wanton destruction in Tikrit as the battles raged, while acts of vandalism increased after the city's liberation. Shiite Iraqi bloggers have created a Facebook page, “Thalajati Sharafi” (My Fridge, My Honor), satirizing the assorted rumors and ridiculing the accusations leveled against the units.

The controversy over what happened in Tikrit is being publicly discussed in TV interviews and debates. Sunni parliamentarian Najeh al-Mizan told Ninevah TV April 6, “The militias have looted and stolen Tikrit.” On April 9, Karim al-Nuri, a Shiite and spokesman for the volunteer units, denied the accusations of wrongdoing, attributing the violations to “tribal conflicts and mere individual excesses.” Tamim Hassan, a fighter who participated in the Salahuddin battles, told Al-Monitor, “The individual acts of looting were exaggerated, as happened during many wars in cities.”