Moqtada Al Sadr, one of Iraq’s most influential religious and political figures, has announced that he is freezing his Sadr movement except for its religious institutions — for at least a year ― to fight internal corruption.
He also closed his Twitter account.
In a tweet, the Shiite cleric said that a continuation in leading the movement while it had some corrupt people within “would be a sin”.
This is not the first time Mr Al Sadr has made such a far-reaching announcement.
In August last year he retired from politics after months of parliamentary deadlock.
Mr Al Sadr’s bloc won the highest number of seats during parliament elections, in October 2021, but months of wrangling with pro-Iranian factions meant he was unable to form a government of his choosing, which for the first time would have included Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish elements.
The standoff gave Iraq its longest period without a government. In June last year, Mr Al Sadr told all of his MPs to resign as “a sacrifice from me for the country and the people to rid them of the unknown destiny”.
A month later he announced his “definitive retirement” from politics and the closure of all political functions of his movement.
His supporters stormed the Green Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and at least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured in violent clashes with security forces and Iran-backed militias.
Mr Al Sadr has been a powerful figure in Iraq’s politics since the US invasion of the country in 2003, and has helped shape many changes over the past two decades.
His anti-American stance made him popular among Iraqis.
But his fearsome Mahdi Army, which fought foreign troops, was also accused of carrying out sectarian violence.
He later dissolved it only to resurrect it in 2014 under a new name — the Peace Brigades — to help battle ISIS in Iraq.
In 2016, Mr Al Sadr led an anti-corruption protest movement that supported appointing a cabinet of independent technocrats, away from partisanship.
The Sadr bloc is considered by many as one of very few anti-Iran Shiite parties in a starkly divided political environment.
Since 2003 the Shiite leader has retired from political life eight times, going as far as stopping all political activities and closing his movement’s offices, only to return.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
Teaching in coronavirus times
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The five pillars of Islam
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More on animal trafficking
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
