Muqtada al-Sadr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muqtada al-Sadr
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مقتدى الصدر
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Al-Sadr in Tehran, 2019
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| Leader of the Sadrist Movement | |
| Assumed office 5 December 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Mohammad al-Sadr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1974 Najaf, Ba'athist Iraq |
| Political party | Sadrist Movement |
| Other political affiliations |
Al-Ahrar Bloc (2014–2018) Alliance Towards Reforms (Saairun)(2018–2021) |
| Residences | Hanana, Najaf, Iraq |
Muqtada al-Sadr (Arabic: مقتدى الصدر, romanized: Muqtadā aṣ-Ṣadr; born 4 August 1974) is an Iraqi Shia Muslim religious leader and politician. He leads the Sadrist Movement, a powerful group in Iraq. He became the leader after his father, a respected religious figure.
Muqtada al-Sadr is known for creating the Mahdi Army militia in 2003. This group opposed the American presence in Iraq. Later, he founded the Promised Day Brigade and the Peace Companies militia. In recent years, his political party has won many seats in Iraqi elections.
Contents
Who is Muqtada al-Sadr?
Muqtada al-Sadr comes from the important al-Sadr family. This family has a long history in religious leadership. His father, Muhammad al-Sadr, was a famous Iraqi religious leader. He spoke out against Saddam Hussein's government. Muqtada is also the nephew of Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr, another key religious figure.
People often call him Sayyid. This is an honorific title. It means he is believed to be a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
His Religious Studies
Within the Shia religious system, Muqtada al-Sadr's formal religious rank is considered mid-level. In 2008, he stated that he was not a mujtahid. This is a senior religious scholar who can issue religious rulings. He was reported to be studying to become an ayatollah. This would greatly increase his religious standing.
His Family Background
Muqtada al-Sadr is the fourth son of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad al-Sadr. He is also the son-in-law of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Both his father and father-in-law were highly respected. They were known for caring deeply about poor people.
Muqtada is an Iraqi citizen. His great-grandfather was Ismail as-Sadr. His father, Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, was a respected figure in the Shia Islamic world. Sadly, his father and two brothers were killed, which many believe was done by Saddam Hussein's government. His father-in-law was also executed by Iraqi authorities in 1980. Muqtada is a cousin of Musa al-Sadr, who founded the popular Amal Movement in Lebanon.
In 1994, Sadr married one of Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr's daughters.
His Political Views
Muqtada al-Sadr became very popular in Iraq. This happened after the US invasion in 2003 removed Saddam Hussein. Sadr has sometimes said he wants to create an "Islamic democracy" in Iraq.
He has strong support, especially in Sadr City in Baghdad. This area was renamed after his father. After Saddam's government fell, Muqtada al-Sadr organized thousands of his followers. This became a political movement with a military part, the Jaysh al-Mahdi or Mahdi Army. This group sometimes fought against US and other foreign forces. The larger Sadrist movement also set up its own religious courts. They organized social services and law enforcement in areas they controlled.
Many Iraqis who felt left out supported him. They saw him as a symbol of resistance against foreign occupation.
In 2014, Sadr announced he was stepping back from politics. However, he later called for the formation of "Peace Companies". These groups were meant to protect Shia shrines from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Peace Companies also helped in fighting ISIL.
Sadr is seen by many as a populist leader. In 2015, he joined forces with the Iraqi Communist Party and other groups. They focused on fighting corruption and improving security in Iraq. In 2016, he led large protests in Baghdad against corruption. He urged the government to make reforms.
In 2017, Sadr visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This surprised many people. He also called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
In 2018, Sadr's political group, the Sairoon electoral list, won the most seats in the Iraqi elections. He spoke against US interference in forming the new Iraqi government. He said the US was an "invader country" and should not interfere. Sadr has presented himself as an Iraqi nationalist. He has criticized Iran's influence in Iraq. He also strongly criticized the way Iraqi politics is divided by religious groups.
Opposition to US Presence
2003: Early Opposition
After the US-led forces removed Saddam Hussein, al-Sadr quickly opposed the new authority. He said his movement had more right to lead than the US-appointed Iraqi council. He famously said, "Saddam was the little serpent, but America is the big serpent."
He issued a religious ruling in May 2003. This ruling, called al-Hawasim, was controversial. It allowed people to keep what they had taken, as long as they gave a portion to Sadrist religious leaders. This ruling made him very popular among the poorest people, especially in Sadr City.
2004: Calls for Withdrawal
In 2004, al-Sadr repeatedly demanded that all US-led forces leave Iraq immediately. He also called for a new Iraqi government not linked to the old Ba'ath party.
In March 2004, US authorities closed Sadr's newspaper, al-Hawza. They said it was encouraging violence. Sadr's followers protested. On April 4, fighting broke out in several cities. Sadr's Mahdi Army took control of some areas and attacked foreign soldiers.
Paul Bremer, the US administrator, declared al-Sadr an outlaw. On April 5, al-Sadr called for a jihad (holy struggle) against American forces. His Mahdi Army launched attacks, showing unexpected planning. They targeted supply convoys, which were a weak point for the US military. By the end of April, the US military had largely stopped the uprising. However, al-Sadr had succeeded in making his group a major resistance force.
2005–2006: Political Influence
Al-Sadr did not run in the 2005 Iraqi elections himself. However, he supported parties linked to the Mahdi Army. Many of his followers also supported the United Iraqi Alliance.
In August 2005, about 100,000 Iraqis marched to support al-Sadr. His influence was clear in October 2006. The Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, ordered the release of one of Sadr's aides. This aide had been arrested by American troops.
2007: Calls for Unity
In February 2007, some US officials claimed al-Sadr had left Iraq for Iran. However, his aides denied this.
In March 2007, Sadr called for a large protest against the American presence. He urged the Iraqi army and police not to work with the US forces. He told his fighters to focus on pushing American forces out.
In April 2007, several ministers loyal to al-Sadr left the Iraqi government. In May 2007, Sadr gave a speech in Kufa. He again condemned the US occupation and called for foreign forces to leave. He also called for unity between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. In August 2007, after fighting in Karbala, al-Sadr announced a six-month ceasefire for his Mahdi Army. This was to help him regain control over the group.
2008–2011: Continued Resistance
In March 2008, the Sadr Movement started a civil disobedience campaign across Iraq. This was to protest raids against the Mahdi Army.
In August 2008, Sadr ordered most of his fighters to disarm. But he said he would keep elite units to resist Americans if a withdrawal timetable was not set. In response to Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2008, al-Sadr called for attacks against US troops in Iraq.
In May 2009, al-Sadr made a surprise visit to Ankara, Turkey. He met with the Turkish President and Prime Minister. They discussed the political process in Iraq and Turkey's role in the Middle East.
Before the 2010 Iraqi elections, Sadr urged all Iraqis to vote. He asked them to support those who wanted to remove US troops from the country.
In January 2011, Sadr returned to Najaf, Iraq. He wanted to take a more active role in the new government. Thousands of Iraqis came to hear his first speech. He called the US, Israel, and the UK "common enemies" of Iraq. By late 2011, the US was largely withdrawing from Iraq. This was a key demand that made Sadr popular.
After US Withdrawal
2011–2020: A Changing Role
After the US withdrawal, Sadr remained an important figure in Iraqi politics. He was linked to the Al-Ahrar bloc. While he was once known for supporting violence, in 2012 he began to present himself as a supporter of peace and tolerance. He called for an end to divisions between religious groups.
In February 2014, Sadr announced he was leaving politics and closing his party offices. However, later that year, he called for the "Peace Companies" to protect Shia shrines from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. These companies helped guard shrines and took part in military operations.
In 2015, Sadr formed an alliance with the Iraqi Communist Party and other groups. They focused on issues like security and corruption. In 2016, Sadr led large protests in Baghdad against corruption. He even held a sit-in outside the heavily guarded Green Zone.
In July 2017, Sadr visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He also condemned the US government's stance on Jerusalem. He called for the US Embassy in Baghdad to close.
In May 2018, Sadr's Sairoon list won the most seats in the Iraqi parliamentary election. He again rejected US interference in forming the new government. He has positioned himself as an Iraqi nationalist. He has criticized corruption and Iran's influence in Iraq. He also strongly criticized the religious divisions in Iraqi politics.
In December 2019, an armed drone attacked Sadr's home in Baghdad. He was not there at the time, and there were no serious injuries.
After the killing of Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, Sadr called for US troops to be expelled from Iraq. However, after Iranian rocket attacks on US bases, Sadr urged his followers not to attack US forces in Iraq. In December 2020, Sadr warned Iran and the United States not to involve Iraq in their conflict.
2021–Present: Recent Events
In June 2022, 73 members of Sadr’s group resigned from parliament. This happened during a political crisis in Iraq.
On August 29, 2022, Sadr announced he was retiring from Iraqi politics. He also said he would close most of his offices.
In May 2024, Sadr called for the US embassy in Baghdad to close. This was after Israeli airstrikes on a refugee camp in Gaza.
In December 2024, Sadr urged Iraq's government and people not to get involved in Syria. This message came as government forces in Syria were facing a rebel attack.
Images for kids
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Supporters of Sadr's alliance in Liberation Square, Baghdad celebrating after a successful election campaign
See also
In Spanish: Muqtada al-Sadr para niños
- Ahmed Shibani
