Who is al sadr

Filed June 29, , 11 a. It was the biggest show of force by the populist cleric since the mids, when his followers battled the U. Iraq was not secure without his paramilitaries, he added. On the streets and in the corridors of power. Its members have taken senior jobs within the interior, defence and communications ministries. These new positions have brought the Sadrists financial power. The Sadrists are poised to be the biggest winners in a general election set for October.

This growing influence could pose problems for the United States and Iran, both of whom Sadr accuses of meddling in Iraq. Since the defeat of the Sunni extremist Islamic State in , the United States and the Iran-backed militias that fought the group have turned their guns on one another with rocket attacks and drone strikes.

These methods include ways to avoid splitting the Sadrist vote and so to maximise electoral gains. Cleric Hazem al-Aaraji, a close aide of Sadr, told Reuters the Sadrist Movement is stronger than at any point since Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has previously denied that the Sadrist Movement controls senior posts in his administration and insists he is in charge.

It sets him apart from other Iraqi leaders. Other prominent figures in post-Saddam governments returned from exile in Iran and the West after the U. In , Sadr and his Mehdi Army, a thousands-strong militia formed as a volunteer force against American invaders, defied the U. Among them is Jaafar Mohammed, a year-old fighter. He told Reuters he fought against the Americans in the early s. This is a blessing from God! The cleric explained to Reuters that he helps graduates find jobs by talking to politicians, to people in the Sadrist Movement or even to Sadr.

Two of the graduates told Reuters they tried for years through connections with other political parties to get jobs in the energy sector. Starting in the mids, Sadr generally stood apart from Iraqi governments that were supported by either America or Iran. In he pulled his Sadrist Movement out of the government over its refusal to set a timetable for a U.

And in , Sadr announced he was quitting politics. Aides say he feared his reputation would be hurt by association with a ruling class that is perceived by almost all Iraqis to be corrupt. To be sure, the Sadrist Movement continued to hold key posts in some ministries, notably the health ministry, and it continued to field candidates in elections.

Sunday's election was the first since mass protests over government corruption, high unemployment and dire public services erupted in The poll had been due next year but was brought forward by six months in response to the unrest, during which more than demonstrators were killed by security forces and gunmen suspected of links to powerful Iran-backed Shia militias in the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation force.

The old electoral system was also replaced with one meant to make it easier for independent candidates to challenge established parties. Initial results released on Monday night showed that Saeroun won 19 more seats than it did in the last election in , the state-owned Iraq News Agency INA reported. Mr Sadr hailed the results as a victory for reform and for Iraq.

The day of the people's victory over occupation, normalisation, militias, poverty, injustice and enslavement," he said in a televised speech. It is the day of Iraq and we are the servants of the Iraqi people. The cleric warned foreign powers that all embassies would be welcomed "as long as they do not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs and the formation of the government", and that any intervention would be "met with a diplomatic or even a popular response". Subscribe Subscribe. View Comments.

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Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr drives a car as he joins anti-government demonstrators gathering in the central holy city of Najaf, Iraq, on Oct. October 27, , AM. Join the Conversation Commenting on this and other recent articles is just one benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription. Join the Conversation Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now. Subscribe Subscribe Not your account? You are commenting as.

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