Moqtada Al-Sadr back home in Iraq

The leader of Iraq’s influential Sadr movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, has returned to Iraq after an absence of nearly four years. He is expected to play a major role in the country’s affairs after his party struck a deal to be part of the new coalition government.

Reuters/Ahmed Malik

The return was unannounced, but supporters lined the streets of Sadr City, a poor area of northern Baghdad and home to his devoted support base. Sadr was met with chants of “Imam Ali is with you”, in reference to the Shiite hero and son-in-law of Mohammed, whose disputed legacy caused the split of Islam into two branches.

Sadr has reportedly been studying Islam in Qom, Iran, the premiere Shiite centre of learning. His stay there will only increase views that he is closely allied with Iran’s religious government.

Sadr is the son and son-in-law of the founders of the religious and populist Sadr movement. His father was killed by Saddam Hussein, and when Hussein was executed someone reportedly yelled “Muqtada! Muqtada! Muqtada!”

In 2004 Sadr’s Mahdi Army led the first major armed confrontation against US-led occupation forces, following the closure of Sadr’s newspaper and attempts to arrest him. This earned him the label from the US military as the “most dangerous man in Iraq”.

In 2008, Al-Sadr suspended the militia’s activities, following bloody battles against the US and Iraqi army, which operated under the orders of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Observers say the two leaders may be enjoying a fragile détente, as it was an Iranian-brokered deal which gave Maliki the support of Sadr, breaking gridlock and netting Maliki a second term.

Last month Sadrists were appointed to head eight ministries in the coalition government formed by al-Maliki. Al-Sadr’s movement won 42 seats in the 325-member parliament in the March vote.

Sadr has repeatedly asked for US and coalition troops to leave and Iraq, and has consistently urged full participation in elections.