Latest news with #Al-Sadr
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Muqtada al-Sadr calls for nationwide Friday protests against US and Israeli terrorism
Baghdad ( – Influential Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) called for organized, peaceful demonstrations to be held across Iraq after prayers this coming Friday. In a public statement, Al-Sadr urged his followers to protest in the center of each governorate to condemn what he described as 'Zionist and American terrorism, its colonial expansion, and its hostility towards peoples and religions.' He specifically cited 'aggression against Arab and Islamic countries,' including neighboring Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The call also serves as a condemnation of the 'violation of our internationally protected Iraqi airspace,' which he said would harm the nation. Invoking the legacy of his father, Al-Sadr reiterated the slogan 'No, no to Israel; no, no to America,' framing the US as the 'primary driver of all wars in the world.' He stressed the demonstrations must be peaceful and called on 'sincere ones' to participate while excluding 'the corrupt.' The call to protest comes amid heightened regional tensions following recent Israeli-Iranian military exchanges.
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Muqtada al-Sadr urges mass protests against US–Israel actions
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraqi Patriotic Shiite Movement (Sadrist) leader Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqis to take to the streets in peaceful, coordinated protests following Friday prayers, condemning what he labeled as 'Zionist [Israeli] and American terrorism' and their 'colonial expansion.' Al-Sadr called on citizens in all provinces to participate in unified demonstrations, citing religious, ideological, and humanitarian motives. He accused Washington and Tel Aviv of committing massacres and launching attacks on regional nations, naming Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Al-Sadr further condemned recent Israeli strikes and the alleged use of Iraqi airspace for foreign military operations, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. 'The breach of our internationally protected skies endangers the people, our sanctities, and our national values,' he warned.
Shafaq News
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Muqtada al-Sadr bans use of family name in campaigns
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr prohibited political candidates from referencing his family name in election campaigns. 'Invoking the name al-Sadr, particularly the two martyrs, is strictly prohibited, whether explicit, implied, or suggestive,' he stated. The two martyrs are his father, Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr—assassinated in 1999 for opposing Saddam Hussein—and his cousin, philosopher and cleric Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, executed in 1980. Both figures are revered across Iraq's Shiite population for their resistance to dictatorship. Al-Sadr condemned political opportunism, accusing candidates of remembering the public only during election cycles. He also addressed vote-buying, urging Iraq's economically disadvantaged citizens to accept material offers from candidates, including those he labeled corrupt while rejecting them at the ballot box. 'These are your funds, not theirs.' Al-Sadr, who leads the Patriotic Shiite Movement (PSM), won 73 seats in Iraq's 2021 parliamentary elections, securing the largest bloc in the legislature at the time. However, in 2022, he abruptly withdrew from the political process. Observers suggest that any potential return by al-Sadr could upend current political calculations and even delay the upcoming vote. 'Our silence is speech,' he added. 'It should not be mistaken for approval of their corruption.'
Shafaq News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Sadr blames US-Israel dominance for global chaos
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraqi Patriotic Shiite Movement (PSM) leader Muqtada Al-Sadr lashed out at the United States, Israel, and Western powers, accusing them of driving global chaos through war and domination. In a post on X, Al-Sadr denounced what he called 'the corrupt trio'—US President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He warned that the world's submission to American influence and the normalization of Israeli actions has eroded international norms and fueled injustice. 'Those who side with the corrupt and the oppressors will face ruin—just as we saw in Syria and are now witnessing in Iraq,' Al-Sadr wrote. 'The grip of the corrupt trio over global affairs is weakening all nations, reducing them to the fate of African countries whose resources were looted by colonial powers. America's current scandal will become tomorrow's proof—just like Saddam and Hosni Mubarak.' The cleric pointed to a series of global flashpoints, including the unrelenting war in Ukraine, Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, intensified bombardment in Yemen, growing tensions between Morocco and Algeria, clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and fresh skirmishes between Pakistan and India. 'And the list goes on,' he added. — مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) May 7, 2025
Shafaq News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Despite the President's appeal, Al-Sadr rejects election return
Despite the President's appeal, Al-Sadr rejects election return Shafaq News / The head of the Patriotic Shiite Movement (PSM), Muqtada al-Sadr, on Saturday firmly rejected reconsidering his decision to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections. Al-Sadr's statement comes after President Abdul Latif Rashid issued a public letter urging the influential leader to reverse course and rejoin Iraq's political arena ahead of the November 11, 2025, elections. In his response, Al-Sadr clarified that his election boycott was never intended to delay or cancel the vote, but rather to stand against a system that consistently recycles what he called 'corrupt and shameless' figures. 'When I ordered the election boycott, it was not to postpone or abolish them,' Al-Sadr wrote. 'But it saddens me deeply that a great people might vote for the corrupt, the shameless, and the thieves of public funds—including those involved in the 'Deal of the Century,' which has yet to be resolved.' Despite his continued political withdrawal, Al-Sadr reaffirmed his commitment to Iraq's well-being, describing himself as a soldier who will remain on the front lines in defense of the nation. 'Even if I do not participate—and will never participate—with the corrupt or those who disregard the people's voice, I will always remain one of Iraq's soldiers,' he said. 'I will be the first to defend it with honor and dignity against calamities, so we may live free of corruption, dependency, and vile sectarianism.' Al-Sadr concluded by placing Iraq's fate 'in the hands of the Merciful God,' while reminding current leaders of their responsibilities, 'Iraq is in your care, its people and components are your responsibility. No one will aid you if you do not help yourselves.' Al-Sadr's political exit in June 2022 included the resignation of all 73 Sadrist lawmakers—a dramatic move that reshaped the balance of power in Parliament. Since then, Al-Sadr has distanced himself from formal political engagement while continuing to influence Iraq's public discourse through social, religious, and nationalist platforms.
