General information
First Active Year: 2004
Current Name: al-Mahdi Army
Current Name full English: al-Mahdi Army
Current Name full native language: Jaish al-Mahdi
Original Name: al-Mahdi Army
Original Name full English: al-Mahdi Army
Original Name full native language: Jaish al-Mahdi
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
Conflict Goal Issues: The al-Mahdi Army was an Iraqi Islamist group fighting for the establishment of an international Islamic state. The group emerged in 2003 with the aim of challenging the Iraqi government and establishing Iraqi independence from foreign forces, particularly occupying American forces. During its first year of existence, the al-Mahdi Army released several statements that the project coded as stating several conflict goal issues. The group called for the establishment of an “honest government to run the country – one elected by the masses.” The group also “vowed to establish a council ‘of the righteous’ that would rival the new government.” These statements signify the intent of the al-Mahdi Army to replace the current political system with an Islamist society elected through democratic means. This new governance structure would also entail the creation of a new constitution. The group also pronounced its intent of establishing new judicial and executive systems: “I still have great hopes for a free, united and independent Iraq enjoying judiciary independence and a constitutional court.” The al-Mahdi Army also called upon the government to respect the civil rights of the Iraqi people.
As the conflict continued, emphasis on certain issues was dropped, and other goal issues were raised. Ideas of democracy, holding elections, civil rights, and drafting a new constitution were not coded after 2004. Similarly, the project did not code any calls for referendums, or of reformations of the executive structure after the group’s first year. Statements pertaining to reformations of the judiciary were still continuous for the early stages of the conflict, although emphasis changed towards the creation of Islamic courts, rather than the previously called for constitutional courts. Changing the political system towards an Islamic state was continuously emphasized and frequently mentioned. Conflict goal issues of ensuring religious and cultural rights, protecting cultural heritage, as well as providing public services for the people became increasingly frequently mentioned towards the later stages of the conflict, which was largely centered around protecting the Iraqi people against Western influence, power, and occupation. Opposition to elections also became a frequently coded issue for the group, rejecting “any call for elections in the presence of the occupier, in the past and in the future.”
The main conflict goal issues for the al-Mahdi Army were the continuously emphasized creation of an Islamic political system which would serve to protect the Iraqi people’s rights of religion and culture from the influence and occupation of the US, which were also frequently mentioned goal issues. The issue concerning the provision of public services was also frequently coded, although it was never the main emphasis of statements, and it is, therefore, not considered a main issue of the group.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During its first year of existence, the al-Mahdi Army released statements that were coded as calling for the removal of foreign influence, occupation, and military presence. In particular, the group stated that the Iraqi people wished to handle the situation following the US toppling of the previous Iraqi regime, rather than becoming occupied by the Americans. They also emphasized the issue of being free from foreign influence, stating: ‘Eventually, we’ll have a referendum separate from the Americans and, God willing, elections separate from the Americans.’, as well as from foreign, specifically Israeli and American, companies.
As the conflict continued, the emphasis on removal of foreign companies was no longer coded, and foreign influence was not coded for several years although it reemerged towards the end of the conflict. However, statements calling for the removal of the American military occupation were continuously and frequently made, with heavy emphasis, by the group. The al-Mahdi Army also accused both the Iraqi and US militaries of committing atrocities against civilians, villages, and of peaceful demonstrators: “The US troops were backed by some Iraqi forces. Afterwards, innocent and defenceless citizens left their houses. The US troops opened fire on the residents of the city.” Following these allegations, the group called upon the international community for political support for and recognition of the resistance movement, as well as for international monitoring, specifically the UN, to oversee elections and to keep peace, emphasizing that they should substitute the US-led coalition forces. The al-Mahdi Army also continuously called for the release of prisoners affiliated with the group, and for the Iraqi government to take care of its internally displaced people.
The most emphasized and continuously mentioned conflict dynamics issue was the calls for American occupying troops to withdraw from Iraq. This became a defining issue for the group and the issue was coded for all its active years with heavy emphasis. Whilst the al-Mahdi group continuously called for the release of prisoners towards the end of the conflict, it was not heavily emphasized, and should, therefore, not be considered a main issue. Foreign influence was not as continuously coded as foreign military presence, although it received significant emphasis towards the end of the conflict and was a part of the group’s initially raised conflict issues, which is why it should also be considered a main issue.
Conflict Resolution Issues: During its first year of existence, the al-Mahdi Army was only coded as expressing one issue regarding conflict resolution, that being a request regarding the structure of negotiations when it praised opposition to negotiations with occupying forces.
During the second year of conflict, 2004, the project coded several statements pertaining to conflict resolution issues. The al-Mahdi Army called for Saddam Hussein to be tried as a war criminal, rather than as a prisoner of war, which was coded as a call for accountability. The group also called for amnesty of its fighters in negotiations, which were also called for in tandem with calls for a ceasefire. The group also called upon the US government to issue compensation for the families of fighters who had died in the conflict. For the duration of the conflict, the project coded opposition to negotiations with the US as frequently occurring, as well as calls for accountability towards US troops for abuses committed in the country. During the conflict’s final year, the project also coded one instance of the al-Mahdi group calling for negotiations with the Iraqi state.
In terms of main issues, the al-Mahdi group continuously and frequently emphasized their oppositional position to negotiations with the American occupiers, as well as calls for accountability for both Saddam Hussein and for American forces. These were the only continuously emphasized conflict resolution issues.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Change a specific law, Change judicial system, Civil rights, Constitutional issues, CPS: Democracy, CPS: Islamic state, Cultural rights, Economic reforms, Electoral reform, Hold elections, Law and order, Opposition to elections, Opposition to federalism, Oust full executive, Protection of cultural heritage, Public services, Referendum, Reform executive structure, Reform judicial system, Religious rights, Restructure military forces, Restructure police forces, Rule of law
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: political, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Removal of foreigners, DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces, DFI: Withdrawal of political support, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Political support, IFI: Recognition, Release of prisoners, Return of refugees/IDPs
Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Amnesties, Call for ceasefire, Call for negotiations, Compensation/restoration, Structure of negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2004
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
2006
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
al-Mahdi Army - Civilians
2007
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
al-Mahdi Army - Civilians
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
2008
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2004 Group Archive
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
Comment on Name: Al-Mahdi Army, or Jaish-i-Mahdi (alternative spelling: Mahdi Army, Mehdi Army, Jaysh Mahdi), led by Muqtada Al-Sadr.
The name translates as the army of the Mahdi. Shii theology believe that the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic society in which truth and justice will prevail.
Comment on Active: The Al-Mahdi Army originally claimed to be defenders of holy Shii shrines in south Iraq. During the clashes with the government in April - June and August - September, most of the warfare was conventional even though set in urban environment.
Part of the Al-Mahdi Army seemed to be well-equipped and trained while it also consisted of less disciplined troops. It was reported that fighters sometimes fired their gun on automatic from the hip without aiming at the government troops.
Troop Size: 6000 - 10 000
Comment on Troop Size: Several different estimates have been made, as much have been made of Al-Sadrs popularity. However, the Al-Hawza paper only had a circulation of about 10 000 readers and it is unlikely that all Al-Sadr supporters are willing to take up arms and join the Al-Mahdi Army.
Military analysts claimed that the Al-Mahdi probably consisted of between 6 000 - 10 000 troops more or less centrally controlled.
Secondary Support: The government, and in particular the multinational coalition, regularly stated that Al-Mahdi Army was supported by Iran with training, weapons and logistics. Aside from the ability of members of the group to cross the border into Iran, these claims have not been independently confirmed. Iran denied the accusations and temporaily placed Muqtada al-Sadr in house arrest in Qom, Iran in May 2008.
2007 Group Archive
al-Mahdi Army - Civilians
Comment on Name: Al-Mahdi Army, or Jaish-i-Mahdi (alternative spelling: Mahdi Army, Mehdi Army, Jaysh Mahdi), led by Muqtada Al-Sadr.
The name translates as the army of the Mahdi. Shii theology believe that the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic society in which truth and justice will prevail.
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
Comment on Name: Al-Mahdi Army, or Jaish-i-Mahdi (alternative spelling: Mahdi Army, Mehdi Army, Jaysh Mahdi), led by Muqtada Al-Sadr.
The name translates as the army of the Mahdi. Shii theology believe that the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic society in which truth and justice will prevail.
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: The government, and in particular the multinational coalition, regularly stated that Al-Mahdi Army was supported by Iran with training, weapons and logistics. Aside from the ability of members of the group to cross the border into Iran, these claims have not been independently confirmed. Iran denied the accusations and temporaily placed Muqtada al-Sadr in house arrest in Qom, Iran in May 2008.
2008 Group Archive
Government of Iraq - al-Mahdi Army
Comment on Name: Al-Mahdi Army, or Jaish-i-Mahdi (alternative spelling: Mahdi Army, Mehdi Army, Jaysh Mahdi), led by Muqtada Al-Sadr.
The name translates as the army of the Mahdi. Shii theology believe that the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic society in which truth and justice will prevail.
Comment on Active: In February, Muqtada al-Sadr requested that the Al-Mahdi Army would stick to the six-month ceasefire which had been declared in august 2007.
Following several months of clashes, Muqtada al-Sadr suspended all operation by the Al-Mahdi Army on 28 august 2008. Spokespersons also announced an ambition to transform the organisation into a social organisation, but were unclear when asked if the armed wing would be dismantled.
On 16 November 2008, Muqtada al-Sadr announced the formation of a new militia under the name The Brigades of the Promised Day with the aim to fight US troops in Iraq.
Troop Size: 60 000
Comment on Troop Size: It is unclear to get credible reports about membership in Al-Mehdi Army, but it has been estimated that the organisation had 60 000 available armed members.
Secondary Support: The government, and in particular the multinational coalition, regularly stated that Al-Mahdi Army was supported by Iran with training, weapons and logistics. Aside from the ability of members of the group to cross the border into Iran, these claims have not been independently confirmed. Iran denied the accusations and temporaily placed Muqtada al-Sadr in house arrest in Qom, Iran in May 2008.
