As concerns mount, the Iraqi government is intensifying efforts to combat the movement, though questions remain about the effectiveness and scope of the newly formed Committee to Fight the Forces of Darkness in Najaf. [Getty]
A decision by local authorities in Najaf, southern Iraq, to establish a committee dedicated to “fighting the forces of darkness” has sparked widespread debate throughout the country.Â
 The lack of clarity regarding the groups or individuals the committee will target, as well as concerns over its legality and potential overlap with existing security forces, has led to public criticism.
According to an official decision issued by the local government in Najaf and reported by Iraqi media outlets, the committee’s purpose is to counter intellectual and cultural influences that it claims are negatively affecting youth.
A document outlining the committee’s mission states that it aims to “protect students’ minds from ideological indoctrination and curb the influence of deviant movements and the forces of darkness” to safeguard social cohesion and future generations, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab‘s Arabic-language sister publication.
The committee comprises officials, security personnel, government representatives, and members of the University of Kufa.
Targeting ‘the Qurban Group’
Initial reports indicate that the committee is primarily targeting the Qurban (Sacrifice) Group, a religious faction active in southern Iraq that allegedly promotes self-harm and suicide as a form of devotion. Iraqi security forces arrested dozens of Qurban members last year following a series of suicides, some of which were carried out collectively.
The group is reported to believe in human sacrifice as a means of expressing devotion to Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliphate of Prophet Mohammed. Such beliefs contradict both Shia and Sunni teachings, which emphasise the worship of God alone.
The formation of this committee has been met with scepticism and criticism from Iraqi citizens and activists, many of whom question the vague term “forces of darkness” and its possible exploitation for political or religious agendas. Some fear that it could be used to restrict personal and public freedoms in Najaf, one of Iraq‘s key religious cities.
Speaking to Mohammed Al-Bassem, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed‘s reporter in Baghdad, Hiba Al-Kufi, chair of the Committee to Fight the Forces of Darkness and a member of the Najaf Provincial Council, defended the initiative.
“The scepticism surrounding the committee’s name is understandable, but the purpose is to draw attention to dangerous ideological influences that are affecting students and young people in Najaf,” she explained.
She argued that the city is facing an intellectual invasion through online deception, fake social media pages, and misinformation campaigns promoting religious extremism and other ideological threats.
“The committee’s first phase will focus on schools to address dangerous movements like the Qurban Group,” Al-Kufi said.
She also highlighted a rise in concerning incidents, including the suicides of two female students in mid-January, and noted that families are increasingly worried about new ideological shifts affecting their children.
“We plan to collaborate with influencers, experts, and scholars in education and social sciences to counter these trends,” she added.
A worrying trend
Iraqi journalist Hussam Al-Kaabi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Najaf, like other Iraqi provinces, faces periodic waves of extremist ideology, the latest and most dangerous of which is the Qurban Group.
“The Najaf Provincial Council chose the term ‘forces of darkness’ because these extremist groups promote dark, dangerous actions, especially encouraging young people to commit suicide,” Al-Kaabi explained.
The Iraqi security and judicial authorities have been cracking down on the Qurban Group in central and southern Iraq for several months. Authorities classify the group as a “deviant religious movement” due to its alarming suicide rate among members.
In recent months, Iraqi security forces arrested around 90 individuals associated with Qurban, branding them as “religious extremists.” However, activists and analysts warn that the group’s influence remains active, with many parents fearing its impact on their children.
Reports from Dhi Qar, Maysan, Basra, and Diwaniyah indicate a sharp rise in suicides, often occurring in homes and mosques used as Qurban Group centers.
As concerns mount, the Iraqi government is intensifying efforts to combat the movement, though questions remain about the effectiveness and scope of the newly formed Committee to Fight the Forces of Darkness in Najaf to address the deeper social and psychological issues fuelling the matter.
