The United States moved to place a bounty on Muqtada al-Sadr after he led a Shiite revolt against the American invasion of Iraq. Iran ultimately saw him as a man who turned away from his benefactors to become a major obstacle to the sovereignty of Iraq. For many Iraqis, his stance paralyzed political life with decisive support from Shiite rivals. Few figures in the region inspire as much loyalty and hatred as the cleric. Al-Sadr, arguably Iraq’s most influential voice, commanded broad support. On Monday, as his followers gathered around the seat of government, Al-Sadr announced a withdrawal from politics and a shutdown of most institutions built by his movement. The move triggered protests that left more than thirty dead and again pushed Iraq toward a new wave of instability.
Born in the holy city of Najaf, Al-Sadr rose as the son of a prominent cleric and became a political force after Saddam Hussein ordered his assassination in 1999. He led a movement that drew millions from the country’s poorest and most urban Shiite communities. A robust grassroots network formed after the 2003 US invasion, supported by armed elements of the Mahdi Army, later rebranded as the Peace Brigades. In the volatile Iraqi political landscape, Al-Sadr aimed to position himself as a populist leader who would revitalize the nation by challenging a traditional elite, addressing corruption, and resisting foreign influence from both Iran and the United States.
Political power with the most votes
In parliamentary contests held in 2018 and again in 2021, his movement secured the largest share of votes, yet neither election produced a stable government. After months of failed negotiations with Sunni and Kurdish blocs, his faction was eventually edged out by pro-Iranian rivals led by the Coordination Framework, a coalition that included veteran Shiite leaders such as former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. In June, Maliki urged lawmakers to resign and called for street protests to demand fresh elections. Al-Sadr’s setback briefly opened the door for his Shiite rivals to steer the government, and some feared he would attempt to derail the process by targeting parliament with his followers later in the year.
The ensuing ten months were marked by political paralysis, with sit-ins, protests, and intense debates. The tension rose after Al-Sadr attacked the interim government’s headquarters, sparking clashes with security forces and pro-Iranian militias. Al-Sadr later announced a withdrawal from politics, a move many analysts described as tactical rather than a permanent exit. Observers noted that his grand gestures often served a broader strategy, rather than signaling a final departure. According to Farhad Alaadin, chairman of the Iraqi Advisory Council, Al-Sadr believes he has a plan to shape a new political order where his influence remains preeminent.
For now, Al-Sadr commands the loyalty of his base, who continue to influence the political trajectory by pressing for changes inside the government. On Tuesday, he called on some supporters to disengage from the presidential palace precincts where the prime minister’s office sits. He framed the recent upheaval as a revolution that had been bloodless in intent, distancing himself from the violence of recent hours and offering a public apology to the Iraqi people. In Najaf, his remarks underscored the perception of an unwavering, strategic actor who weighs moves carefully and remains convinced of a long-term plan for the country.