Populist Iraqi cleric announces suspension of his movement

BAGHDAD (AP) — Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr announced Friday that he would suspend the movement he leads for a year, citing “corruption” among some of his followers.

A group within his Sadrist movement, which calls itself the “Owners of the Cause,” believes that al-Sadr is Imam Mahdi, a Shiite religious leader who is said to have disappeared over 1,000 years ago and is now expected to return at the head of an army of believers to defeat evil in the world.

On Friday, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council announced that an investigative court had ordered the arrest of 65 suspected members of the “Owners of the Cause,” which it described as a disruptive “gang.”

In a statement on his Twitter account, al-Sadr said: “I want to be a reformer for Iraq and I cannot reform the Sadrist movement.” He added that he would stop all of the movement’s activities – with the exception of religious activities such as Friday prayers.

Al-Sadr resigned from politics last August after nearly a year of stalemate over the formation of a new cabinet. In the October 2021 parliamentary elections, his party won the most seats, but not enough to form a majority government.

Al-Sadr’s refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals and his subsequent withdrawal from the talks plunged the country into political uncertainty and instability, while intra-Shiite disputes intensified.

After al-Sadr announced his resignation from politics, hundreds of his angry supporters stormed the government palace and clashed with security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.

Al-Sadr had won a broad following with his nationalist rhetoric and promises of reform, many of whom came from the poorest sections of Iraqi society.

Many of his supporters were original followers of his father, a revered figure in Shiite Islam.