Posted on 05/17/2008 9:10:31 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
London, Asharq Al-Awsat - In response to the claim that the Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr is present in the Iranian city of Qom, Asmaa al Mousawi, leading member of the Al Sadr political bloc in Iraq, told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We can neither confirm nor deny this information and we cannot discuss the whereabouts of Sayyed Muqtada al Sadr for security reasons.”
A reliable Iraqi source based in Qom told Asharq Al-Awsat Friday, “Al Sadr is held in a house affiliated to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. He is isolated from others; nobody is allowed to see him and he is not permitted to leave the house.” The source added, “Only a very small number of people, who I can count on the fingers of one hand, are allowed to see him.”
The source, a student of Islamic jurisprudence [Fiqh] at the Qom Hawza said, “Muqtada al Sadr’s phone number had been given to a small number of his close associates however this number has been cut off completely.”
The source, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity for security reasons, indicated that “Over three weeks ago, al Sadr had returned to Iraq and was secretly staying with an associate in Najaf but he quickly returned to Qom when the Iraqi government intensified [the offensives] on the Sadrist current and the Mehdi Army.”
“Iranian politicians in Qom openly criticize al Sadr’s presence because it is the cause of many problems for Iran especially regarding Iran-Iraq ties, which numerous Iranian bodies strive to develop. One of al Sadr’s associates who is a member of the Sadrist bloc told me in confidence that Sayyed Muqtada al Sadr had been held in Iran and cannot do anything without the permission of Iranian security authorities,” added the source.
Asmaa al Mousawi, a Sadrist leader, told Asharq Al-Awsat by phone from Baghdad, Friday, “We can neither confirm nor deny this information; we do reject any information that discusses the whereabouts of Sayyed Muqtada al Sadr as he travels around many places.”
She added, “There are threats against Sayyed [Muqtada al Sadr] from different political parties that do not agree with the principles of the Sadrist trend.” She denied that al Sadr may be targeted by the Iraqi government or the American forces: “I do not believe that the occupying American forces would run the risk or arresting al Sadr.”
Mookie is wished dead by many, other than the Great Satan. Imagine that!
BTW, isn't this guy just dead, and all this is just propaganda? Has there been an official appearance by him?
Bump to read later
one of our great failings in this world is not having killed al sadr from the get go.
The Iranians aren’t happy with his running of Sadr City?
Open a large buffet in Basra... if Mookie doesn’t show within the hour, you can rest assured that he is either dead or under house arrest in Iran.
Thanks Ernest. That non-answer means “yes”. ;’)
Oh, Sadrist...headline looks like SADIST.
Where in the world is al Sadr ping. If he’s under house arrest in Iran, it certainly calls into question how much he can call his own shots.
LOL!!!
Don’t arrest him, kill him.
He should have been dead many years ago.
It has cost us dearly for failing to do so.
don't mean to be rude, but are you nuts? the last thing we want to do is make a martyr out of him. If that ever happened, the Iranians would exploit his death and replace him with someone dangerous. This guy peaked about couple of years ago and has been losing power ever since.
Isn’t he supposed to be giving a sermon somewhere every Friday?
I don’t think he’s given one in six years.
Just turned up this note from the Long War Journal side bar:
Iraq Al Sadr Bloc denies relations with Iran
**************************************
Saturday, May 17, 2008 09:40 GMT
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Al Sadr Bloc lawmaker Liqaa Al Yassin denied any agreement between Al Sadr Bloc and Iran. In a statement to Al Hayat Newspaper, Al Yassin refused calls to keep US Forces in Iraq stressing on Al Sadr Bloc’s call to pullout US troops as soon as possible.
As for the agreement between Al Sadr Front and the government in Sadr City, Al Yassin noted that Cleric Sayyed Moqtada Al Sadr played the role of a peace advocator in latest events. She reminded of several initiatives including the initiative of Dr Ibrahim Al Jaafari to solve the crisis. However, the initiative never came to light due to rows between Al Jaafari and Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki. As for the relation between Al Sadr Bloc and Al Maliki, Al Yassin quoted Sayyed Al Sadr as saying that politics have no shape and is subject to changes saying that the relation with Nuri Al Maliki will be decided upon circumstances. ********************************** Now is Sadr in Iran or Not...who Knows... This seems like a Flat Out Lie by Al Yassin. |
You DARE question my intel??!!! (smile - just kidding)
The fact an immediate, angry denial was not forthcoming, is an acknowledgement of the truth of his “house arrest” - EXCEPT it might be in a suburban house “near” Qom and thus allow a truthful denial of the exact location.
It also avoids having to produce the man publicly, which cannot be done without the Mullahs giving their consent. Isn’t “secrecy” a great cover?
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