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Iraq’s Sadr Bans his Movement’s Armed Wing from Using Weapons

An Iraqi walks down a street in Baghdad, passing by a portrait of Moqtada al-Sadr wearing the military uniform of Saraya al-Salam (AFP)
An Iraqi walks down a street in Baghdad, passing by a portrait of Moqtada al-Sadr wearing the military uniform of Saraya al-Salam (AFP)
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Iraq’s Sadr Bans his Movement’s Armed Wing from Using Weapons

An Iraqi walks down a street in Baghdad, passing by a portrait of Moqtada al-Sadr wearing the military uniform of Saraya al-Salam (AFP)
An Iraqi walks down a street in Baghdad, passing by a portrait of Moqtada al-Sadr wearing the military uniform of Saraya al-Salam (AFP)

Iraqi cleric and leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, has prohibited his followers and members of his armed faction, Saraya al-Salam, from using weapons inside or outside Iraq.

He also emphasized the need to turn to “wise figures and religious authorities” in the event of external aggression against the country.

Sadr’s directive comes as Washington has urged Baghdad to prevent any armed faction from supporting Yemen’s Houthis amid ongoing US strikes in Yemen.

Tahsin al-Humaidawi, the “jihadist deputy” of Saraya al-Salam, said on Wednesday that Sadr had ordered the group not to carry or brandish weapons domestically or abroad. He reiterated that any response to external threats should be guided by religious authorities and national leaders.

“The fate of the nation and its people should not be decided by an individual or a group,” Humaidawi said, hinting at the necessity of keeping weapons under state control and maintaining the government's exclusive authority over war and peace decisions.

Humaidawi added that Sadr’s instructions also included avoiding sectarian rhetoric and inflammatory statements, warning of potential risks that could destabilize Iraq.

Saraya al-Salam, established in 2014 under Sadr’s leadership to combat ISIS, is an armed group aligned with the Sadrist movement’s political agenda. It operates within a religious and ideological framework shaped by Sadr’s vision.

Political analyst and Sadrist insider Manaf al-Moussawi described Sadr’s decision as a response to a “complex political climate.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he noted that the recent rise in sectarian tensions could escalate into a major crisis. “Sadr is trying to prevent strife from spreading,” he said.

Earlier, Sadr warned against Israel’s expansion into Arab and Muslim territories, saying it was reaching Iraq’s borders amid international silence over the massacres in Palestine.

Moussawi added that Sadr’s stance extends to other armed groups, urging them to heed religious authorities in an effort to limit weapons to state control.

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Macron and Tebboune Announce Return of Normal ‘French-Algerian’ Relations

The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
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Macron and Tebboune Announce Return of Normal ‘French-Algerian’ Relations

The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on Monday confirmed a normalization of ties after months of strained relations and agreed to reestablish political dialogue and relaunch cooperation on security and migration.
During a phone call, Macron urged Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune to show “mercy and humanity” towards a jailed French-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, the Elysee palace said in a statement.
The author was sentenced last Thursday to five years in prison after an interview he gave to a French far-right media outlet was deemed to undermine Algeria's territorial integrity.
Macron “called for a gesture of mercy and humanity towards Mr Boualem Sansal, given the age and state of health of the writer,” the Elysee statement said.
French nationals living in Algeria and who mostly own private companies, are concerned that the diplomatic rift between both countries would affect their businesses.
They hope discussions between French and Algerian high ranking officials would halt the deterioration in bilateral relations.
Michel Bisac, president of the Algerian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the French-language news website Tout sur l'Algérie, that French residents in Algeria working in companies or in the finance and business fields, are “always welcomed by their Algerian partners.”
“The problem is mainly political,” he said in an attempt to minimize the escalated relations between both countries and its impact on jobs, and French investments in Algeria.
Bisac said most French companies have performed well in 2024, but the diplomatic escalation between the two countries has raised concerns.
“French companies in Algeria do not face any retaliatory measures. As for administrative difficulties, especially with regard to imports, they affect all foreign investors, and do not specifically target France,” he added.
Bisac said there is no campaign against France despite the tense relations, affirming that professional ties remain strong, and expatriates continue to work in a stable environment.
But as bilateral relations continue to deteriorate, he said, the economy could be affected, threatening years of Franco-Algerian cooperation.
Meanwhile, the government in Paris is divided on the French-Algerian crisis. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau vowed a “gradual response” after Algeria refused Paris’ demand to readmit Algerian nationals from France that local authorities have deemed a threat and are seeking to expel.
In return, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel to Algiers on April 11 at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, as part of the effort to mend ties between both countries. He is expected to meet with Tebboune.
Recently, Algerians have shown a willingness to dialogue, but the local press has continued its attacks on right-wing French officials, including presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau, who has called for the termination of the 1968 Franco-Algerian immigration agreement.
In return, Algeria's parliament established a commission to draft a law criminalizing French colonial rule, a move deemed “historical” and backed by local lawmakers, historians, and legal experts. Observers expect Algeria to abandon this step when relations between Algiers and Paris return to normal.