Muqtada al Sadr's Quotes

Just because we're rid of Saddam and the evil Batthists doesn't mean the occupation is a good thing. Our salvation from Saddam was only with the grace of God.

No one has the right to ignite a war and lead an occupation and armies to conquer people, invading them and make them suffer all kinds of torture, murder, expulsion, displacement, bombing and terrorism by different lethal prohibited weapons and then come and speak as the savior of the people or a defender of their rights.

Obama has no power to change American policy because there are people who specialize in drawing these policies, which have been and still are hostile towards Islam.

Out of my desire to complete Iraq's independence and to finish the withdrawal of the occupation forces from our holy lands, I am obliged to halt military operations of the honest Iraqi resistance until the withdrawal of the occupation forces is complete.

So, if I were arrested or if I were killed, then after me the issues that American fears about me wouldn't exist anymore - and I couldn't tell you what those issues are.

When the Americans advance, we harass and retreat, fire from new positions and then retreat again. If the attacking force is too big, we call for support.

Who is against democracy? Is it the one who calls for peaceful resistance, or the one who bombs people, sheds their blood and leads them away from the leaders under feeble and dirty pretexts?

Do not betray the people.

I wish to be a martyr, and I don't fear death.

I am a part of the political process whether the multinational forces are present or not. Politics is serving the people, not chairs and positions.

The little serpent has left, and the great serpent has come.

We will not stop resisting the occupation until liberation or martyrdom.

Go forth from our holy land and go back to your families who are waiting for you impatiently, that you and we, as well, lead a peaceful life together.

What if the invasion forces will not leave our lands? What if the U.S. forces and others stay in our beloved lands? What if their companies and embassy headquarters will continue to exist with the American flags hoisted on them? Will you be silent? Will you overlook this?

All Iraqis should live under one roof and for one goal.

America has shown its evil intentions, and the proud Iraqi people cannot accept it. They must defend their rights by any means they see fit.

Anyone supported by the United States is cursed by us.

Anyone who seeks to be involved in politics should join hands with America.

Divisiveness is not good for the people.

Everything that happens is determined by God.

God willing, the occupation forces will be driven out as happened in Vietnam.

Help me by whatever you are pleased to do in your provinces.

I am confident that you brothers in parliament will champion the will of the people over that of the occupier.

I beg you not to resort to demonstrations, for they have become nothing but burned paper.

I don't want the chair of the government because it will be controlled by the U.S. and I don't want to be controlled by the U.S.

I fear only God, all praises to Him.

I have a red line against the Americans.

I have said it many times: the policy of exclusion and the policy of marginalization must end in Iraq.

I repeat my demand that the occupier leave the land of our beloved Iraq unconditionally, without retaining bases or signing agreements.

I will continue to defend Najaf as it is the holiest place. I will remain in the city until the last drop of my blood has been spilled.

I will deal with the politicians in a political way and with the nonpoliticians in a nonpolitical way.

If the American military begins to withdrawal, there will be no need for these armed groups.

For me, writing stories is one way of feeling connected to the universe and God.

God is the biggest storyteller, and when we create stories, we connect with him and with each other across cultural, religious and gender boundaries.

I find families intriguing, perhaps because I did not grow up in one. I was raised by a feminist, independent, single mother, a divorcee.

I love commuting between languages just like I love commuting between cultures and cities.

I spent my entire childhood observing people. I still do.

I write with humour about sadness, to introduce an element of sweet to the sour, a bit like Turkish food.

Books change us. Books save us. I know this because it happened to me. Books saved me. So, I do believe through stories we can learn to change, we can learn to empathize and be more connected with the universe and with humanity.

I write as if I were drunk. It is a process of intuition rather than placing myself above my story like a puppeteer pulling strings. For me, it's a scary, chaotic process over which I have little control. Words demand other words, characters resist me.