Nickname: Muqtada al-Sadr

Role: Iraqi Shia Leader
Status: Sponsor
Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr was born in Baghdad in 1973 of Lebanese descent. He takes the title "Sayyid" as a descendent of Muhammad. His great-grandfather and father were respected religious leaders. His father was supposedly murdered by Sadaam Hussein. He controls the intimidating and occasionally violent Mahdi Army, and he directs a network of charitable organizations that was founded by his father in the Baghdad suburb called "Sadr City." These connections make him one of Iraq's most influential Shiite leaders. He is currently studying Shia theology in the Iranian city of Qom.
View his biography on Wikipedia HERE .