Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr - Definition and Overview

Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr

Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (1934? - April 9, 1980) was an Iraqi Shia cleric. He was the uncle of Muqtada al-Sadr, and brother of Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr.

Born in Kazimain around 1934. Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr completed his religious teachings at religious seminaries at the age of 25 and began teaching in Najaf. While teaching he became a prominent member of the Iraqi Shia community, and was noted for his many writings, including those on Islam and its relation to economics. He also worked with Sayed Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim in forming an Islamist movement in Iraq. This attracted the attention of the Baath Party and resulted in numerous imprisonments for Ayatollah al-Sadr. He was often subjugated to torture during his imprisonments, but continued his work after being released.

In 1977, he was sentenced to life in prison following uprisings in Najaf, but was released two years later due to his immense popularity. Upon his release however, he was put under house arrest. In 1980, after writing in the defense of Ayatollah Khomeni and the Islamic Revolution, Sadr was once again imprisoned, tortured, and executed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. His sister was also imprisoned, tortured, and executed.

External links

• Website on Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr (http://www.alsadr.com/)