Compulsory Military Disservice to Iraqis

(Photo: Reuters)

This week, the bill requiring Iraqi males between the ages of 19 and 45 to serve in the military for periods ranging between three to 18 months, had its first reading in the Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament). The bill was sent to parliament by the former government of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, but its reading was postponed due to early elections in October 2021. Since parliament announced the bill, there has been a mixed reaction from Iraqis across all social media platforms.

According to research conducted by parliament’s research center, headed by Dr. Firas Jasm Musa, an estimated 95 percent of Iraqis favour passing the bill, while only 5 percent are against it. The financial burden on the state is estimated to reach 122 million USD for salaries alone, and over 20 million USD for ammunition. The new military bases and training centers required could cost hundreds of millions more.

Critics of the bill are mainly concerned with two issues: the militarization of society and corruption. The second point is a significant concern as Iraq is rife with corruption across its public institutions, including security forces. Article seven of the bill states that a medical team will be stationed in every governorate and region to assess recruits’ physical abilities and health conditions. This is one of many opportunities for the medical team to exploit its power. Those with power and money can bribe medical assessors to get out of serving, just like after 1991, recruiters and officers exploited the Compulsory Law after the Ba’ath regime came under sanctions. Anyone who could afford it would pay a certain bribe to get out of doing compulsory military service. At the checkpoints, officers were asking young Iraqis for their identification, and that is when you would hand them some cash, and they would let you go. Another way of getting out of compulsory military service through bribes was paying for a “military service book” filled with fictional service in the military. Therefore, if history is to teach us a lesson it is that the wealthy and influential citizens with ties to the ruling elite will likely exploit the law to get away from doing military service. The poor who do not have a political connection could be dragged to the frontline.

The bill has made some exceptions and decreased military service to three months for holders of Ph.D. and six months for those with a master’s degree.

Critics of the bill view it as being unconstitutional. Although, several democratic states enforce compulsory military services, such as Switzerland, Lithuania, and South Korea. Article 44 of the Iraqi constitution states, “Each Iraqi has freedom of movement, travel, and residence inside and outside Iraq.” Article 24 of the bill states, “An Iraqi (male) who has completed 19 years of age and has not completed 45 years of age is not allowed to leave Iraq, unless he has completed, postponed or exempted from compulsory service”. The bill clearly contradicts the constitution.

Supporters of the bill claim that the new law will strengthen Iraq’s youth’s ability to succeed and be disciplined in the army. They also believe that military service will promote patriotism among Iraqis. Other arguments in favour of the bill is that it will create more jobs for Iraq’s unemployed. For instance, the Speaker of parliament, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, hailed the bill as an income opportunity for young Iraqis. Some MPs go further and promote the bill by claiming that the new law will create opportunities for underrepresented religious and ethnic minorities and unite Iraqis.

Iraq already has over half a million soldiers and police officers, excluding the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan, accounting for over a quarter million more. According to the new bill, over six million male Iraqis will be forced to join the army, which will wipe out federal funding.

Iraq today does not need more soldiers, but better training for its existing soldiers. The Iraqi government needs to enhance and professionalize its security forces. Meanwhile, the money that will be used for this unnecessary bill can be better utilized to empower youth and create other opportunities for them to succeed. Iraq needs to invest in technologies, education, health, and infrastructure. We are no longer in the 1970s, we are in the age of tech and social media. The focus should be looking forward and equipping Iraqis to compete globally. Reforming the education system can discipline students and prepare them for any challenge ahead of them, without the need to arm them. Unfortunately, the Council of Representatives seems detached from reality because military service is not what young Iraqis dream of. Iraqis want to provide for their family and travel to see the world. The bill will backfire if they ignore the Iraqi public.