Moqtada Al-Sadr Quits Politics

Little_Socrates · February 16, 2014

Prominent Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr quits Iraq politics

Iraq’s Shia cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr

Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:36AM GMT

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Iraq’s prominent cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, has announced his exit from the political arena.

“I announce my non-intervention in all political affairs,” the leader of Sadr Shia movement said in a handwritten note posted on his website on Sunday.

He added that “there is no

bloc

that represents us from now on, nor any position inside or outside the government, nor parliament.”

The 40-year-old Shia cleric also said the Sadr movement will shut down all of its offices except for some charities.

Sadr movement currently holds six cabinet posts as well as 40 seats in the 325-member Iraqi parliament.

Sadr and his Mehdi Army were against the US-led military presence in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein eleven years ago.

Mahdi_theguideforall · February 16, 2014

Oo, any idea why he would quit?

IbnSohan · February 16, 2014

good move

aliasghark · February 16, 2014

This guy's politics seem confused... trying to understand him he appears a bit like a Sunni nationalist trying to appear Shia, or a completely misguided Shia trying to curry flavor with Salafi militant groups by compromising his own beliefs. In any case, lacking a coherent ideology.

I wonder what he's going to do now. Hopefully after quitting politics he and his government members won't go back underground and kill regime forces.

It's very unfortunate what he's become, considering how great his father was.

IbnSohan · February 16, 2014

This guy's politics seem confused... trying to understand him he appears a bit like a Sunni nationalist trying to appear Shia, or a completely misguided Shia trying to curry flavor with Salafi militant groups by compromising his own beliefs. In any case, lacking a coherent ideology.

I wonder what he's going to do now. Hopefully after quitting politics he and his government members won't go back underground and kill regime forces.

It's very unfortunate what he's become, considering how great his father was.

give him his 70 excuses

**skylight2** · February 16, 2014

too bad - he is the only non-puppet in Iraqi politics.

Shiabro · February 16, 2014

He was a real politician, made some good moves but also some major mistakes. But which politician doesn't make some major mistakes, especially these days.

Waiting for HIM · February 16, 2014

This guy's politics seem confused... trying to understand him he appears a bit like a Sunni nationalist trying to appear Shia, or a completely misguided Shia trying to curry flavor with Salafi militant groups by compromising his own beliefs. In any case, lacking a coherent ideology.

I wonder what he's going to do now. Hopefully after quitting politics he and his government members won't go back underground and kill regime forces.

It's very unfortunate what he's become, considering how great his father was.

He was confused and incoherent from the very beginning. He was used by external and internal forces.

Iraqi politics should be in the hand of Malikis and Hakims like politicians not like wannabes of Sadr. He was propelled there only for the heroic stances of his family members.

I really hope that all orphaned Shia sympathizers of his party would hopefully gravitate towards real Shia political parties of Iraq.

Abu Izrael · February 16, 2014

Good.

Edited February 16, 2014 by Abu Izrael

kim.tinkerbell · February 17, 2014

Ohh thank the lord his out, he will be in the mental hospital next...

Never seen a man soo dumb...

**Jahangiram** · February 17, 2014

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

hidrali · February 18, 2014

-he quit due to the lack of progress his followers have made in parliament, and some of them have been accused of corruption, as the sayyid wouldnt tolerate such a thing unlike his opponents who brush corruption under the carpet if it was from their own,

-does not want any group representing him or using his name in the political arena

-he is an Iraqi national who sincerely cared about Iraq,

-he had quit before, and left for iran, but his followers begged him to come back,

-his intentions were pure despite some unfavorable results in politics,

-he extended his arm to the sunnis, kurds, rival shia groups,

-the sadri-trend does alot of charitable work, and

-was the main opponent and force against american hegemony in Iraq.

-he continousily spoke out and criticized the governement for the lack of services to the iraqi people. and didnt hesistate to punish his closest followers if they had transgressed.

-atleast he was willing to quit, unlike his rivals who are busy filling up their bank accounts, and they havent done jack all those years in power, milking it dry to the grave.

-sayyed moqtada is a champion for the downtrodden in the south and sadr city. good luck to sayyed moqtada

Edited February 18, 2014 by hidrali

**skylight2** · February 18, 2014

^

exactly.

How people can still think Maliki is any good is sad, to say the least.

aliasghark · February 18, 2014

I don't think anyone here is saying Maliki is really good, you can have an opinion about a person's politics without commenting about his opponents.

Little_Socrates · February 19, 2014

^

exactly.

How people can still think Maliki is any good is sad, to say the least.

-he quit due to the lack of progress his followers have made in parliament, and some of them have been accused of corruption, as the sayyid wouldnt tolerate such a thing unlike his opponents who brush corruption under the carpet if it was from their own,

-does not want any group representing him or using his name in the political arena

-he is an Iraqi national who sincerely cared about Iraq,
-he had quit before, and left for iran, but his followers begged him to come back,
-his intentions were pure despite some unfavorable results in politics,
-he extended his arm to the sunnis, kurds, rival shia groups,
-the sadri-trend does alot of charitable work, and
-was the main opponent and force against american hegemony in Iraq.
-he continousily spoke out and criticized the governement for the lack of services to the iraqi people. and didnt hesistate to punish his closest followers if they had transgressed.

-atleast he was willing to quit, unlike his rivals who are busy filling up their bank accounts, and they havent done jack all those years in power, milking it dry to the grave.

-sayyed moqtada is a champion for the downtrodden in the south and sadr city. good luck to sayyed moqtada

(salam)

Can we all agree that politics and the taking part in it is bad and wrong in itself? Whether one is intending to do good or bad I do not think matters.

This whole situation in Iraq kind of reminds me of some Islamic centers in the way the politics work. You have two main parties and then other people or blocs

aligning with those parties? In some cases you also have cash being poured in and voters being bribed into membership so they can have the right to vote for

the person who paid for their membership etc. This is the same way politics in countries like Iraq work.

The point I am trying to make is that If one truly believes in the concept of Imamat, why then is there so much politics in the first place? Why can there not be a council

of knowledgable and respectable scholars of all sects and religious backgrounds who decide what goes on and what doesn't? I know there is a lot of division in a country

such as Iraq but this is not just limited to that country alone but many others in the Middle East and Asia. I am not talking about a dictatorship either but rather another form

of governnance in which corruption can be limited and controlled and in which there results in less division and discord.

With all that being said, I too am happy Sadr has left politics. It is a disgusting game which turns brothers against brothers.

(wasalam)

mac33c · February 19, 2014

Excellent article, explains his decision very well.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/02/18/the-political-retirement-of-muqtada-al-sadr/#.UwS07dY_rYw.facebook

Waiting for HIM · February 19, 2014

Excellent article, explains his decision very well.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/02/18/the-political-retirement-of-muqtada-al-sadr/#.UwS07dY_rYw.facebook

Which shows how stupid he has always been. So he quits like an angry kid who throws away the monopoly board because he could not manage to get out of jail free!

Maliki politics is not sectarian, had it been sectarian, there would have been Sunni genocides in Iraq after an average of 100 Shia killings per month in bomb attacks in Iraq for past 11 years. Shia have not taken it out on innocent Sunnis.

Maliki needs to be more iron fisted with Salafis for which I blame him squarely.

kim.tinkerbell · February 19, 2014

I doudt malkie is filling papers to get a larger bank account. It's the sunnies parties that usually hold back malkies decisions. Well not all the sunnies but the majority.

Malkie should just do what he thinks is right, you cant give sunnis to much space they will push you off the ruff...

**skylight2** · February 21, 2014

The Farewell Speech of Muqtada Al-Sadr

Iraq is Run by Wolves

by MUQTADA AL-SADR

I am not of those who turn a blind eye and keep their mouths shut in the face of corruption and wrongdoing. It has been decreed upon us, the Sadrs, to be those who call and work for guidance.

Here we are seeing our wounded and oppressed Iraq, under a black cloud that has covered its land and its sky: blood is flowing, wars are everywhere, people killing each other, some under the name of the ‘law’ and some under the name of ‘religion’.

Cursed is this ‘law’ that sheds blood and violates sanctities and down with a religion that gives right to beheading, bombing and assassinations.

Then politics became a door for injustice, mockery, autocracy and violation. So a dictator would become in charge of wealth, and he steals it, and of lives of people and he kills them, and of cities and he attacks them, and of sects and he divides them, and of minds and he buys them, and of hearts and he breaks them, so that everybody votes for him to stay in power.

Iraq with no life, no farming, no manufacturing, no services, no security or safety, no peace. And elections that thousands of lives are scarified for, all that, so a government would rule us, disregarding our rights and opinions, and a Parliament, with its worn seats, that can’t protect itself, let alone protect others.

A Parliament that can only agree to vote in one condition; if there are special rewards for MPs; but if there are (laws for) general benefit of the nation, everyone steps back, or the matter reaches the cabinet, where they (the laws) would be turned down/vetoed. But the cabinet would never veto against the MPs special rewards or their pensions.

Iraq that is ruled by wolves, thirsty for blood, souls that are eager for wealth, leaving their nation in suffering, in fear, in water puddles, in dark nights, lightened only by moonlight or a candle, swamped by assassinations based on differences or after ridiculous disagreements. All that and the government is only watching.

Iraq that is ruled by a group which came from beyond the borders. We long awaited for them to free us from the dictator, only for them to hold firmly on to the seats themselves, in the name of Shia, and Shiaism.

Was the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace and blessings upon him) able to sleep whilst there was a hungry person near to him? And now, how full are the streets with (people) with no roofs, no walls, no basic food, instead they sleep on the bare ground, covered by the raining sky.

A government that is overstuffed, has forgotten those who live beyond the guarded walls, has become blinded with wealth, houses, palaces, and aeroplanes, ignoring a prison that is called ‘Iraq’.

An honourable nation, that has been engulfed by wars, with harsh conditions that left it an easy bite that has fallen between the jaws of politicians and leaders. A nation that does not want food, but it demands honour, a heard voice and freedom, that lead it to the pleasure of the Lord, and to prove itself.

But, a government has come to shut the voices, to kill the opposition, to force them into exile, to fill prisons with them, and with everyone who resisted and tried to free his country from the tanks and aeroplanes of the occupation.

A government that has dominated over everything. It does not listen to anyone, even to the voice of the ‘Marj’’ (scholar)i and his ‘fatwa’ (rulings), or even to the voices or complaints of its counterparts, supported by the East and the West, in a way that surprises every wise man. In all this, we do not want to take their post or their chair, as we, the Sadrs, are much above this. We want to guide them, and protect them from mistakes, so Iraq would be in safe and caring hands. But they only listen to their masters, leaving the Sadrs and the two Sadr martyrs behind them, and whoever has an objection against them; Shia, Sunni or Kurd, theywould accuse him of terrorism or sectarianism, using the politicised judiciary to finish him, or to the army to arrest him, or using media propaganda or other ways which you know more about.

We, the Sadrs, if we could not change this, we say: Oh God do not associate us with the oppressors, and associate us with those who love the truth.

Peace upon those who supported us, we have not betrayed them, and we will not betray them. We seek to protect them, and their reputation, and from being led astray in this life. Especially, as there are those who seek to manipulate you, our loved ones and even use our name, the Sadrs, to reach his heinous aims in this life .They have collected well, they have spilt blood, they have violated sanctities and became in charge of people’s lives using our name and no one else’s name

And all that, they do not respect a ‘fatwa’ (ruling) or ruling or a question or a decision (or even a small paper from me), not even advice and not even an order, they ignore all of these.

And so that you know, all the people of Iraq, we love you so continue on your faith, love, religion and your support. God has made you victorious by us and has made us victorious by you. You are an honour to us except those the misguided who misguide others, who chose this life over the afterlife- down with them.

If there are amongst you honourable voices, political or others, let them continue in their work but in an independent way or otherwise away from me, under general guidelines, based on righteousness, faith, patriotism, wisdom and the public good. Iraq should not be left to the people of injustice

But I shall remain for all, I am not only to the Sadrists, I have devoted myself to Iraq, to Islam and I shall remain for everyone.

Whatever decisions or orders I have made, that you could not bear, I seek forgiveness for myself and for you but I am proud of these decisions until the day of judgment because I tried in all of them to be inspired and based on the path of the two Martyrs, their ideas and their manners and I shall not deviate from this, as they are my masters and my leaders, they are my authority and their enemies are my enemies.

In addition the society appears to be far away from the remembrance of God all praise to him, and this this has put a distance between myself and the society to some extent. I urge the believers to remember God and to be obedient to him so that he may forgive us all and so the gates of mercy would open for us and may this be an opportunity for the appearance of truth. Truth shall rise and nothing shall rise above it.

O beloved ones I have a few other points to mention:

Firstly the participation in elections. Despite this decision (by myself), I see participation in the elections as an obligation and must be on a large scale so the government would not fall into the hands of the sly ones who cannot be trusted, God forbid.

As for me I shall vote and I shall give my vote, if I live, to every honourable person who wants to serve the people, and I shall stand with everyone at equal distance, so I ask the Iraqis to participate in these elections and not to fall short. To fall short in this would be a betrayal to Iraq and its people.

Secondly, there are politicians who have served the Iraqi people honestly and sincerely, “and if there were no pious ones, it would have been destroyed”, and they are many, God willing. But I particularly would like to thank and to mention the two brothers; the governor of Misan and the governor of Baghdad, may God reward them as He would reward the righteous ones. They should continue and perfect their work in serving their nation.

Thank You.

Translation of Sayd Muqtada Al-Sadr last speech on 18/2/14 by Hassen Basil Al-Sader.

**Jahangiram** · February 21, 2014

^Ok bye bye now, the irony was too much to handle from you anyway mr. sadr.

**skylight2** · February 21, 2014

Iraq to remain in the horrendous tribalist state that it is now for the foreseeable future under sell outs like Maliki and his ilk.

Waiting for HIM · February 21, 2014

The flake princess we know of as Muqtada Sadr is back in politics after creating this drama :) ... and we call those temperamental little girls the drama queens.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Waiting for HIM

Mahdi_theguideforall · February 21, 2014

^ lol you serious, he is back???

Abu Izrael · February 22, 2014

The flake princess we know of as Muqtada Sadr is back in politics after creating this drama :) ... and we call those temperamental little girls the drama queens.

Oh for God's sake if this is true... sometimes it feels like nothing will ever change. wAllah he's a big drama queen

kim.tinkerbell · February 22, 2014

Such a attention seeker, a bit like waiting for him, hahaha.

Waiting for HIM · February 23, 2014

Such a attention seeker, a bit like waiting for him, hahaha.

After saying me 'shut up' somewhere else in the discussions, now this!

Did I step on your cat's toe's or what? LOL

Edited February 23, 2014 by Waiting for HIM

kim.tinkerbell · February 23, 2014

After saying me 'shut up' somewhere else in the discussions, now this!

Did I step on your cat's toe's or what? LOL

Looool, It's " After telling me 'to' etc ...

Waiting for HIM · February 23, 2014

Looool, It's " After telling me 'to' etc ...

I got a stalker ... Yayyyy

:)

.... Normal people 'tell', you 'say' .. Ok now spend a week learning the difference.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Waiting for HIM

HaxisTheShia · March 3, 2014

Muqtada Al-Sadr Assaduliraq. He is a great Iraqi patriot who shall never be forgotten in Iraqi History. He was a Nobel servant of Allah with Jaish Mahdi Army and Special Groups. Here are a beautiful videos in his Milita's Honor http://www.google.com/url?q=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DL7btfYN_AeA&sa=U&ei=6BsUU96_AYvpkAf964DYDQ&ved=0CA0QtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFNVTeGGgJrybWTsmP_H-AYbJXBjw

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0mp0aulQtOU&sa=U&ei=aB0UU7iTEMWhkQfrxoG4CQ&ved=0CA0QtwIwAQ&usg=AFQjCNGnLd93i6QrEk9em0bEWaqDJOxkOQ

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DOjuDsIXL9WA&sa=U&ei=hh0UU6upFMmAkQfF24F4&ved=0CA0QtwIwAQ&usg=AFQjCNEtJyj3kKk4d0lgnZCj85uf-SJgXg

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DNiGkPAzp8Dw&sa=U&ei=kx4UU8rHFsu4kQfBqoHQBg&ved=0CCYQtwIwCQ&usg=AFQjCNFt4N_yuSORWfVASKG4rkkWSkEESg

Edited March 3, 2014 by HaxisTheShia

HusseinAlix · March 28, 2014

May be he was kicked out :)

I could remember when Sastani made a deal with the US both Nasrula in Lebanon and Moqtada said it will divide the muslim resistance against the US. That was what happened. Divide and rule.

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