Sadr Attempts to Instill Order Among Followers

05/26/2007

by Anne Garrels
NPR News


All Things Considered, May 25, 2007 · After staying out of sight for six months, Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr finally appeared in public Friday in an attempt to rein in his followers and instill order to an organization in turmoil.

Sadr last appeared at his home base of Kufa, south of Baghdad, in November; American officials said he fled to Iran in January just before the start of the new Baghdad security plan.

Sadr remains one of the most popular and powerful figures in Iraq. But what his followers do and what Sadr says are often in stark contrast, whether by design or by a failure of leadership.

Thousands turned up at the Kufa mosque after rumors swirled that Sadr was back home. The burly 33-year-old cleric appeared, accompanied by bodyguards and top aides.

His sermon started with his usual impassioned opposition to the continued presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. His chants "no no to tyranny" and "no no to the devil" were picked up by the crowds.

But perhaps more important: Sadr took his followers to task for not obeying orders.

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