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1/9/2021

Treasury Sanctions Iraqi Militia Leader Connected to Serious Human Rights Abuse | U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Sanctions Iraqi Militia Leader Connected to Serious
Human Rights Abuse
January 8, 2021

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s O ice of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) designated Iraqi Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC) Chairman and former
National Security Advisor Falih al-Fayyadh for his connection to serious human rights abuse.
During protests beginning in October 2019, Iran-aligned elements of the PMC attacked Iraqi
civilians demonstrating against corruption, unemployment, economic stagnation, poor
public services, and Iranian interference in Iraq’s domestic a airs. Al-Fayyadh was part of a
crisis cell comprised primarily of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) militia leaders formed in
late 2019 to suppress the Iraqi protests with the support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Today, Iran-aligned elements of the PMF continue to
wage an assassination campaign against political activists in Iraq who are calling for free and
fair elections, respect for human rights, and clean government.
“By directing and supervising the murder of peaceful Iraqi demonstrators, Iran-aligned
militants and politicians such as Falih al-Fayyadh have been waging a violent campaign
against Iraqi democracy and civil society,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The United
States will continue to hold accountable human rights abusers in Iraq who aim to deny the
Iraqi people in their e orts to peacefully protest, seek justice, and root out corruption in their
country.”
This action is taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and
implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators
of serious human rights abuse and corruption.

FALIH AL-FAYYADH
Falih al-Fayyadh (al-Fayyadh) is the head of the PMC, a body created by Iraqi legislation to
bring the PMF militias under central government control. Although the PMF was established
to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), many PMF militias are increasingly focused
on advancing their own economic interests and supporting Iran’s regional agenda in Iraq,
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Treasury Sanctions Iraqi Militia Leader Connected to Serious Human Rights Abuse | U.S. Department of the Treasury

rather than protecting the Iraqi state or its citizens. Al-Fayyadh was the head of the PMC
when many of its subcomponents fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters in late 2019,
resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Iraqis. Al-Fayyadh was a member of the IRGC-QFsupported crisis cell with previously sanctioned militia leaders Qais al-Khazali and Hussein
Falah al-Lami, as well as the now-deceased IRGC-QF commander Qasem Soleimani and PMC
deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Until July 2020, Al-Fayyadh was also the Iraqi Prime
Minister’s National Security Advisor.
Al-Fayyadh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is or
has been a leader or o icial of an entity, including any government entity, that has engaged
in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse.
The IRGC-QF, designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, is a branch of the IRGC
responsible for external operations and has provided material support to numerous terrorist
groups, making it a key component of Iran’s destabilizing regional activities. The IRGC-QF’s
parent organization, the IRGC, was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 13, 2017,
and on April 15, 2019 was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Secretary of
State.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the person above that
are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must
be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent
or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or
specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit
all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any
property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The
prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services
by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision
of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

GLOB AL MAGNITSKY
Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the President signed
E.O. 13818 on December 20, 2017, in which the President found that the prevalence of human
rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside
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the United States, had reached such scope and gravity that it threatens the stability of
international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption
undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning
societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade
the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons;
and undermine economic markets.
The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who
commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the
financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.
View more information on the individual designated today.
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