SUMMARY

Al-Mahdi Army was an Iraqi armed group that occasionally challenged the government. The name relates to the belief in Shia theology of the coming of a Mahdi, a messianic figure who will appear at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic society where truth and justice will prevail.

Al-Mahdi Army was formed in July 2003 by Moqtada Al-Sadr with the original intent of protecting holy Shia shrines in the aftermath of the interstate conflict Australia, UK, USA - Iraq. Al-Sadr came from a family with a long history of opposition to the Iraqi government as well as strong religious credentials. The family wear the black turban as a symbol of their claim of being descendents of the Prophet Muhammed.

Muqtada Al-Sadrs uncle, Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr, was one of the leaders in the first Shiite political party in Iraq - al-Da`wa al-Islamiyah - and was executed by the government in 1980. Muqtada Al-Sadrs father, Sadiq Al-Sadr, became known as Sadr II in the early 1990s as he became increasingly popular among the younger and poorer segments of Iraqi Shiites. He established religious-political networks in several cities in the south, and especially in the al-Thawrah suburb east of Baghdad. After the ousting of the Saddam Hussein government in 2003, the area became known as Al-Sadr City. In 1999, Sadiq Al-Sadr was assassinated - allegedly by government agents - but his networks among Shiites were maintained through underground work by his sons.

Al-Mahdi Army remained a militia controlled by Muqtada al-Sadr even as he became more involved in politics following the 2005 elections. By then it was reported that parts of Al-Mahdi army had joined the Iraqi security forces but nevertheless continued to act as part of the militia. Furthermore, there have also been numerous reports of factionalism within Al-Mahdi Army as local commanders have increasingly seemed to act independently. It is unclear to what extent the organisation has split or whether these reports stem from a strategy where Muqtada Al-Sadr can disengage himself from controversial actions. In 2006 and 2007, there were numerous allegations that Al-Mahdi Army receive support from Iran but this was denied by the Iranian authorities.

Al-Mahdi Army has been involved in the intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.