Name of leader Moqtada al-Sadr
Nicknames Moqtada Atari; Video Game Ayatollah [1]
Organization Jaish al-Mahdi (JaM)
English translation al-Mahdi Army
Conflict country Iraq
Gender Male
Year of birth 1974
Place of birth an-Najaf, Iraq[2]
Year of death N/A
Deceased
No, there is no evidence he has died.
Birth order
He was the fourth of six children.[3][4]
Age at start of rebel leadership
In 2003, so age 29.[5]
Leader entry method
He founded the organization.[6]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“After completing middle school, Ṣadr enrolled in the Shīʿite ḥawzah (religious seminary) in Al-Najaf, but he never finished his studies.”[7]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, he married in 1994 at age 20.[8]
Children
No, he did not have children.[9]
Religious identification
He is Shia Muslim.[10]
Elite family background
Yes; “Ṣadr was the son of Grand Ayatollah Muḥammad Ṣādiq al-Ṣadr, one of the most prominent religious figures in the Islamic world.”[11] His cousin was Musa al-Sadr, the founder of the Lebanese Amal movement.
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
Yes, “exact details of Muqtada’s biography are contentious because of the adoration and hatred he was to inspire after the fall of Saddam Hussein, but there is no doubt that politically he was highly experienced and well connected by the time his father and brothers were assassinated.”[12]
Physical and mental health
No; there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He was the editor in chief of the Sadrist’ Islamic magazine.[13]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No; he did not serve in a state military.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No; there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No; he did not experience combat.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No; he did not hold a governmental position.
Lived in exile?
Yes; as of 2011 “Moqtada al-Sadr, the leader of Iraq's Sadrist movement, has returned to the country after three years in exile in Iran and less than a fortnight after his backing helped usher in a new Iraqi government.”[14]
Study abroad?
No; there is no evidence he studied abroad.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No; there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No; there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No; there is no evidence he served time in prison.
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
Yes; there have been multiple by the US, and possibly others.[15]
Cause of Death?
N/A
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He speaks Arabic as his primary language, and likely speaks some Persian.
Image Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Moqtada_Sadr.jpg
[1] Blake Hounshell, "Moqtada al-Sadr, funny guy," Foreign Policy (27 May 2008): accessible at https://foreignpolicy.com/2008/05/27/moqtada-al-sadr-funny-guy.
[2] Louay Bahry, “Muqtadā al-Ṣadr,” Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muqtada-al-Sadr.
[3] Gregg Zoroya, “Why you should know who Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadar is,” USA TODAY, May 2, 2016, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/05/02/iraqi-cleric-behind-weekend-protests-re-emerges-anti-corruption-force/83822424/.
[4] A.B.D.R. Eagle, “Obituary: Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr,” Independent, February 24, 1999, Accessed February 12, 2018, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-ayatollah-sayyid-muhammad-al-sadr-1072841.html.
[5] “Iraq War,” Encyclopedia Britannica, December 6, 2017, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War#ref916864.
[6] “Iraq War,” Encyclopedia Britannica, December 6, 2017, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/event/Iraq-War#ref916864.
[7] Louay Bahry, “Muqtadā al-Ṣadr,” Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muqtada-al-Sadr.
[8] Patirck Cockburn, Muqtada Al-Sadr and the Battle for the Future of Iraq (New York: SCRIBNER, 2008), 112.
[9] Patirck Cockburn, Muqtada Al-Sadr and the Battle for the Future of Iraq (New York: SCRIBNER, 2008), 112.
[10] Augustus Richard Norton, Hezbollah (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007).
[11] “Profile: Muqtada al-Sadr,” Aljazeera, March 7, 2010, Accessed February 12, 2018, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2008/04/200861517227277282.html.
[12] Patirck Cockburn, Muqtada Al-Sadr and the Battle for the Future of Iraq (New York: SCRIBNER, 2008), 113.
[13] Patirck Cockburn, Muqtada Al-Sadr and the Battle for the Future of Iraq (New York: SCRIBNER, 2008), 112.
[14] Martin Chulov, The Guardian, January 5, 2011, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/05/moqtada-al-sadr-returns-iraq.
[15] Patrick Cockburn, counterpunch, May 21, 2007, Accessed February 12, 2018, https://www.counterpunch.org/2007/05/21/the-secret-us-plot-to-kill-sadr/.