BAGHDAD — Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units grouping is taking much of the heat for the seizure of Christians’ properties in Baghdad and other provinces. But the organization is trying to counter the claims by tackling the problem itself.

The Popular Mobilization Units grouping consists of Shiite armed factions formed after the Islamic State (IS) took control of the Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014. Among groups fighting with the Popular Mobilization Units are Sunni tribes operating as “Tribal Mobilization” as well as Christian organizations such as the Babylon Brigade.

Hakem al-Zameli, head of the Iraqi parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, has accused Christian members of the Popular Mobilization Units of appropriating the property.

“A Christian individual claiming to be affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Units is seizing homes and blackmailing the owners," Zameli said in a Feb. 18 press conference. “The chief investigator was asked to follow up on this person to limit the seizure of the property of Christians or other minorities."