Iraq’s Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr

1973: Born son of Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr – senior Shia cleric allegedly assassinated in 1999 for defying Saddam Hussein

2003: Moqtada al-Sadr emerges as Islamist leader after U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, with strong support in poor Shia suburbs of Baghdad

2004: Leads his Mehdi Army militia group in two abortive uprisings against U.S. occupation

2005: Followers of Sadr stand for parliament as part of United Iraqi Alliance bloc of Shia political groups

2008: Mehdi Army crushed by Iraqi and U.S. forces – Sadr flees to Iran to escape arrest warrant after suspending activities of his fighters

2011: Returns to Iraq after his political movement secures deal to join government
of Nuri al-Maliki
 (right)

2014: Revives Mehdi Army under new name of Peace Brigades to fight so-called Islamic State group. Pledges support to new Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (left)
 
2016: Sadr re-enters Iraqi politics, calling on Abadi to reform government and absorb Shiite militias, including Peace Brigades, into Iraqi army
  
2018: Sadr allies with Communists and other secular reformers to contest national elections in May


OUTGOING IRAQI PARLIAMENT
State of Law
Sadrist Movement
Other Shiite parties
Kurdish parties 
Sunni parties
Wataniya (free market)
Others

328 seats 


Sources: AFP, Columbia Encyclopedia, Stanford University
Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS