.Iraqi Cleric: Some Followers Have Split
BAGHDAD (AP) - Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr explained why he has been absent from the public eye and acknowledged that some close followers have split from his movement in a rare statement distributed Friday.
Al-Sadr's statement came as an answer to a loyalist who asked why the radical cleric had been away from the public arena. The last time al-Sadr was seen in public was in May when he gave a fiery anti-American sermon to thousands of followers.
It also comes two weeks after al-Sadr renewed a unilateral cease-fire calling on his militia, the Mahdi Army, not to attack U.S. and coalition forces for another six months. The cease-fire, first declared in August, was credited with helping to reduce violence in Iraq by 60 percent since last summer.
Al-Sadr said he missed his followers "too much" but that every "commander needs to be away for a while to worship," according to the statement distributed Friday by his office in the holy city of Najaf.
"My late father personally recommended me to pay more attention to learning and studying. The brothers in Sadrist offices are continuing to serve the society," said his statement, which also was published on the Sadrists' Web site.
The Shiite militia leader has resumed seminary studies toward attaining the title of ayatollah - one of the highest Shiite clerical positions. The goal could make al-Sadr and his army an even more formidable power broker in Iraq.
But al-Sadr is also confronting the most serious challenges to his influence, which includes sway over a bloc in parliament and a militia force that numbers as many as 60,000 by some estimates. His loyalists hold 30 of parliament's 275 seats, the largest share by a single party.
"Many persons who are close to me have split for materialistic reasons or for wanting to be independent and this was one of the reasons behind my absence.... yet I still have many people loyal and faithful to me and I advise them to direct society toward education and teaching," he said.
Al-Sadr, who is believed to travel frequently between Iran and Najaf, also lamented the inability to "liberate" Iraq. Al-Sadr has turned away from fellow Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and has pulled out his ministers from the Shiite-dominated government.
"I couldn't liberate Iraq and make it as an Islamic society yet. I don't know who is responsible of this failure or inability, me or society or both?" his statement said. "The presence of the occupier and not liberating Iraq as well as the disobedience of many people and their deviation from the right course has pushed me into isolation in protest over this."
Myway
Al-Sadr's statement came as an answer to a loyalist who asked why the radical cleric had been away from the public arena. The last time al-Sadr was seen in public was in May when he gave a fiery anti-American sermon to thousands of followers.
It also comes two weeks after al-Sadr renewed a unilateral cease-fire calling on his militia, the Mahdi Army, not to attack U.S. and coalition forces for another six months. The cease-fire, first declared in August, was credited with helping to reduce violence in Iraq by 60 percent since last summer.
Al-Sadr said he missed his followers "too much" but that every "commander needs to be away for a while to worship," according to the statement distributed Friday by his office in the holy city of Najaf.
"My late father personally recommended me to pay more attention to learning and studying. The brothers in Sadrist offices are continuing to serve the society," said his statement, which also was published on the Sadrists' Web site.
The Shiite militia leader has resumed seminary studies toward attaining the title of ayatollah - one of the highest Shiite clerical positions. The goal could make al-Sadr and his army an even more formidable power broker in Iraq.
But al-Sadr is also confronting the most serious challenges to his influence, which includes sway over a bloc in parliament and a militia force that numbers as many as 60,000 by some estimates. His loyalists hold 30 of parliament's 275 seats, the largest share by a single party.
"Many persons who are close to me have split for materialistic reasons or for wanting to be independent and this was one of the reasons behind my absence.... yet I still have many people loyal and faithful to me and I advise them to direct society toward education and teaching," he said.
Al-Sadr, who is believed to travel frequently between Iran and Najaf, also lamented the inability to "liberate" Iraq. Al-Sadr has turned away from fellow Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and has pulled out his ministers from the Shiite-dominated government.
"I couldn't liberate Iraq and make it as an Islamic society yet. I don't know who is responsible of this failure or inability, me or society or both?" his statement said. "The presence of the occupier and not liberating Iraq as well as the disobedience of many people and their deviation from the right course has pushed me into isolation in protest over this."
Myway
posted by madtom at 11:47 PM
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