Muqtada Al-Sadr

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Worshippers chant slogans during a protest against Sweden after the Nordic nation allowed an Iraqi man to insult the Muslim holy book, the Quran, after their Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Thousands of Muslims take to the streets to express outrage over Quran desecration in Sweden

By Abby Sewell - Associated Press

Supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr sign a pledge to stand against homosexuality or LGBTQ, outside a mosque in Kufa, Iraq, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. Al-Sadr who announced his withdrawal from politics four months ago has broken a period of relative silence to launch an anti-LGBTQ campaign. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Influential Iraqi cleric launches anti-LGBTQ campaign

By Abby Sewell and Anmar Khalil - Associated Press

Iraqi security forces fire tear gas on followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protesting inside the government palace grounds, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Al-Sadr, a hugely influential Shiite cleric announced he will resign from Iraqi politics and his angry followers stormed the government palace in response. The chaos Monday sparked fears that violence could erupt in a country already beset by its worst political crisis in years. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi cleric calls on loyalists to withdraw after clashes

By Samya Kullab and Qassim Abdul-Zahra - Associated Press

Iraqi security forces fire tear gas on followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protesting inside the government palace grounds, in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Al-Sadr, a hugely influential Shiite cleric announced he will resign from Iraqi politics and his angry followers stormed the government palace in response. The chaos Monday sparked fears that violence could erupt in a country already beset by its worst political crisis in years. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Chaos and deadly clashes in Baghdad as cleric al-Sadr leaves Iraqi politics

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

Supporters of Iran-backed Shiite Coordination Framework attend a rally to denounce their rivals, followers of an influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who stormed the parliament last month and have since been holding a sit-in outside the assembly building in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi judiciary says it has no powers to dissolve parliament

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra - Associated Press

Supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold prayer near the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Al-Sadr's supporters continue their sit-in outside the parliament to demand early elections. The photo show Muqtada al-Sadr and his late father Muhammed Sadiq al-Sadr. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Rival Iraq protests underscore inter-Shiite power struggle

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra - Associated Press

Populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, speaks during a mews conference in Najaf, Iraq, Nov. 18, 2021. Residents of the impoverished Baghdad suburb of Sadr City say they they support al-Sadr an influential Shiite cleric who called on thousands of his followers to storm Iraq's parliament. Al-Sadr derives his political weight largely from their seemingly unending support. And yet, they are among Iraq’s most destitute. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil, File)

In Baghdad’s Sadr City, cleric’s support underpins protests

By Samya Kullab - Associated Press

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr set up tents during outside the Iraqi Parliament,, during a sit-in protest, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The Influential Shiite cleric has told his followers to continue their sit-in inside Iraq's government zone, and called for the dissolution of the parliament and early elections. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi cleric calls for dissolution of parliament, early vote

By Samya Kullab - Associated Press

Protesters set barriers during clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters in the al-Rasheed street in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. The demonstrators complain of widespread corruption, lack of job opportunities and poor basic services, including regular power cuts despite Iraq's vast oil reserves. They have snubbed limited economic reforms proposed by the government, calling for it to resign. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Iraqi protesters storm parliament in Baghdad, set up sit-in

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kullab - Associated Press

FILE - Populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, speaks during a mews conference in Najaf, Iraq, Nov. 18, 2021. Iraq’s Parliament is set to hold a session Thursday, June 23, 2022, to vote in replacements for 73 lawmakers who resigned earlier this month. The collective walkout by followers of al-Sadr, Iraq’s most influential Shiite politician, threw Iraq into further uncertainty, deepening a months-long political crisis over government formation. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil, File)

Tension in Iraq as cleric accuses Iran’s allies of meddling

By Qassim Abdul-Sahra - Associated Press

Radical Iraqi cleric threatens to disavow PM designate

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SAMYA KULLAB - Associated Press

Smoke rises from the sites of anti-government protests in Najaf, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. Iraqi officials and activists say multiple anti-government protesters have been shot dead and dozens wounded in clashes with followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Najaf in southern Iraq. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi officials: At least 8 shot dead in southern Iraq

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA - Associated Press

An anti-government protester jumps over burning tires blocking a street during a demonstration against the newly appointed Prime Minister Mohammed Allawi in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Former communications minister Mohammed Allawi was named prime minister-designate by rival Iraqi factions Saturday after weeks of political deadlock. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi protesters reject PM-designate picked by ruling elites

By SAMYA KULLAB - Associated Press

Security forces carry slingshots and a pellet air rifle during clashes with anti-government protesters in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq says joint operations with US-led coalition resume

By SAMYA KULLAB - Associated Press

Anti-government protesters hold a huge Iraqi flag as they gather during a protest in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi protesters defy top cleric and return to the streets

By SAMYA KULLAB - Associated Press

A protester plays an instrument on a street leading to Tahrir Square where ongoing anti-government protests are taking place in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. At least 25 people, including protesters and police, were killed and 130 wounded on Friday when armed men in pick up trucks stormed Khilani square, which is adjacent to Tahrir, and shot live ammunition at demonstrators. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi state forces, militia man checkpoints after bloodshed

By SAMYA KULLAB and MURTADA FARAJ - Associated Press

In this photo provided by the Iraqi government, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right, and Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, early Sunday, May 20, 2018. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose coalition won the largest number of seats in Iraq's parliamentary elections, says the next government will be &quot;inclusive.&quot; The May 12 vote did not produce a single bloc with a majority, raising the prospect of weeks or even months of negotiations to agree on a government. (Iraqi Government via AP) **FILE**

Iran-linked party joins alliance for new Iraqi government

By Connor Foarde - The Washington Times

Illustration on the ascendancy of al-Sadr by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

An Iraqi threat goes mainstream

By Jed Babbin

In this photo provided by the Iraqi government, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right, and Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, early Sunday, May 20, 2018. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose coalition won the largest number of seats in Iraq's parliamentary elections, says the next government will be &quot;inclusive.&quot; The May 12 vote did not produce a single bloc with a majority, raising the prospect of weeks or even months of negotiations to agree on a government. (Iraqi Government via AP) **FILE**

Muqtada al-Sadr, Shia cleric, calls U.S. an ‘invader country’ in Iraq

By Guy Taylor and Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times

In this March 27, 2016, file photo, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gives a speech to his followers before entering the highly fortified Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq. Al-Sadr, the influential maverick Shiite cleric whose political coalition beat out Iran's favored candidates to come in first in national elections, says he wants to form a government that puts Iraqis first. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim, File)

Muqtada al-Sadr’s threat to oust U.S. forces reawakens old fears

By Guy Taylor and Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times