By Anas al-Bar | 2024-03-16

The culture of violence, corruption and cronyism that Iran-backed Iraqi militias breed and perpetuate has created a toxic environment for Iraqi youth, many of whom say they are finding it increasingly difficult to thrive in their homeland.

The militias dominate and exploit Iraq's natural resources to build empires of obscene wealth, several young men told Al-Fassel, while they suffer from poverty and unemployment.

Presented with the opportunity, they said, many would not hesitate to travel outside the country to study and work, or even to reside abroad permanently.

Among them is 35-year-old Qusay, who spoke with Al-Fassel on condition that his full name not be used because of safety concerns.

Qusay, who took part in the widespread demonstrations of October 2019 against the influence of Iran-backed groups, said he is "ready" to emigrate at any time.

Despite the difficulties that living in another country would present, he said he is ready to leave his homeland "because life with the militias is unbearable," singling out Kataib Hizbullah as the main perpetrator of violence and chaos.

Iran-backed armed groups "want to empty the country of its youth because they fear them," he said, adding that they repeatedly attempt to target young Iraqis in various ways "to force them to leave."

Escaping the militias

Qusay said many of his friends who took part in the protests have left Iraq for countries in the region or further afield, "either to save their lives" or to escape the influence and reach of the militias.

Amid a wave of assassinations, disappearances and prosecutions of activists, many have been forced to seek safe haven outside the country.

A 29-year-old graduate who gave his name as "Hassan" told Al-Fassel he knocked on "all doors" to get a job but to no avail, despite having a university degree in education.

"Members of the militias are stealing the country's wealth with their corruption and monopolization of everything, even jobs," he said, while he is facing poverty and is unable to support his family.

"They are getting wealthier," he said. "They have become empires of money, property and influence, while we are getting poorer."

Hassan said he "will not miss any opportunity to emigrate" to find work and to develop his skills and complete his studies.

Haj Akram al-Baghdadi, 67, whose son has lived in Europe for nine years, told Al-Fassel he "did not oppose his son's decision to emigrate."

"He is my only son, and parting with him is difficult for me and his mother, but this is better than being prey for the militias," he said.

'Huge loss' for Iraq

Iran-backed militias tear apart the fabric of Iraqi society, he said, using "the weapon of drugs to destroy the future of our children and pressure them to fall into their traps and throw them into the incinerator of their wars."

"Depriving the country of its young people and their energies and capabilities is an irreparable loss, and this is what the militias want, to destroy all capabilities," he said.

Iraq ranked second on the list of countries whose citizens applied for asylum in European Union countries in 2022, the Middle East Monitor reported, with more than 26,900 Iraqis making asylum requests in Europe that year.

Iran-backed militias have attempted to coerce the country's youth, under the pressure of poverty and destitution, to join their ranks and die for them, political researcher Abdul Qader al-Nayel told Al-Fassel.

When these young people rise up against the pressures and demand a decent life and fairness, they are brutally suppressed by the militias, he said, as evidenced during the October 2019 demonstrations and ensuing protests.

The emigration of Iraqi youth is a "huge loss" for the country, and militias responsible for it are committing a "national crime," al-Nayel said.

"We must preserve this human capital and benefit from it by using it to build and uplift the country," he added.