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Olde Tyme Religion
Finally: Grand Ayatollah Muqtada al-Sadr
2009-05-06
Al-Sadr, who leads the Mahdi Army militia, also met both Recep Tayyip Erodgan, the Turkish prime minister, and president Abdullah Gul in Ankara.
Radical Iraqi Shia cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, is reported to have assumed the title of Grand Ayatollah after concluding his studies in the holy city of Qom in Iran. Sources close to the cleric's faction released the news to the Arab daily, al-Sharq al-Awsat.

Around 70 supporters of al-Sadr on Sunday concluded a conference in Sadr City the Turkish city of Istanbul where they elected new leaders and mapped out their future.

Al-Sadr, who leads the Mahdi Army militia, also met both Recep Tayyip Erodgan, the Turkish prime minister, and president Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Friday during his visit to Turkey.

Al-Sadr joined his supporters after completing two years of study in Iran and was expected to return to Iraq this week to resume his religious leadership.

During the Shia conference entitled 'The Al-Sadr faction and future challenges', Al-Sadr's supporters renewed their commitment to fight the occupation of their country and demand the removal of all foreign troops, while seeking greater collaboration with other Iraqi political parties.
Posted by:Seafarious

#24  Is a Grand Ayatollah above or below the pay grade of a Community Organizer?

And if you assume a title does the rest of the world assume with you?
Posted by: Skunky Glins 5***   2009-05-06 23:27  

#23  The fate of Turkey's military is sealed
and identical to that of Iran...

Pusillanimity does NOT pay!

Posted by: Ming the Merciless   2009-05-06 19:06  

#22  "Nobody knows what its like, to be the e-mam...to look like a bat-man...."
Posted by: swksvolFF   2009-05-06 17:03  

#21  What about Ayatollah Rockenrollah?
Posted by: mojo   2009-05-06 15:26  

#20  But, he has such a nice smile.....
Posted by: Sneaque Sinatra2090   2009-05-06 14:08  

#19  Elevate him to the next level so he can go hide in a well for a few centuries.
Posted by: KBK   2009-05-06 13:51  

#18  Al-Sadr, who leads the Mahdi Army militia, also met both Recep Tayyip Erodgan, the Turkish prime minister, and president Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Friday during his visit to Turkey.

This Turkish guy Erodgan needs to be overthrown,Has many Islamist enemies of the West as pals.Come on the Turkish Army act before its too late!!!
Posted by: Paul2   2009-05-06 12:41  

#17  Sistani is Grand, this kid is a punk
Posted by: mehdi   2009-05-06 11:37  

#16  "See, I got my Associate's Degree in Grand Ayatollahship from the Qom online school of Air Conditioner Repair, Dental Hygiene, Business Administration, Grand Ayatollahship, and Cosmetology. I also got an MBA in Islamic Hedge Fund Management, Marriage Counseling, Chiropractic and Aromatherapy."
Posted by: Anonymoose   2009-05-06 11:25  

#15  FWIW, Ayatollah means "sign of God"

Ayat = sign
Posted by: lord garth   2009-05-06 09:49  

#14  Not wishing to inflame or futher alienate the 'wonderful faith of Islam' our military forces declined numerous opportunities to aerate with bullet old Moqtada and his cadre. The infestation continues.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-05-06 09:05  

#13  We could in and buy him a nice Parker Pen and Mechanical Pencil set. And yes "Mazel Tov Dickhead" would make a nice engravement.
Posted by: .5MT   2009-05-06 09:00  

#12  Amazing what University of Somalia is now offering via correspondance course these days....
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2009-05-06 08:59  

#11  maybe a better dental plan?
Posted by: Frank G   2009-05-06 08:46  

#10  So now he's a Grand Assatollah. Does he get a sprocket?

It does mean that terrorism is, indeed, a part of mainstream Islam.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2009-05-06 08:29  

#9  Appears the business developers at ACORN have been very busy of late.
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-05-06 08:09  

#8  Gosh! Grand Ayatollah in only two years. That's quite a feat for the Jethro Bodine of the islamic world.
Posted by: ed   2009-05-06 08:06  

#7  A joke. His men yet do not know.
Posted by: newc   2009-05-06 05:38  

#6  Gaz, I would assume that the title doesn't devolve due to primogeniture, but that would be a big part of Muqtada's claim?
Posted by: Free Radical   2009-05-06 05:07  

#5  Al-Sadr joined his supporters after completing two years of study in Iran and was expected to return to Iraq this week to resume his religious leadership.

I guess it's just dumb luck that the US is withdrawing about the same time he's returning to Iraq.
Posted by: gorb   2009-05-06 04:25  

#4  Really you aren't suppose to 'assume' the title of Grand Ayatollah, it's something that you earn when you achieve a certain critical mass of supporters and respect. Also it usually takes a few decades of study and numerous books before one could hope to have the term applied to them.
Posted by: Gaz   2009-05-06 03:40  

#3  Can we get a picture of Mookie's forehead blisters?
Posted by: Muggsy Glink   2009-05-06 02:48  

#2  POPE BENEDICT....
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-05-06 01:47  

#1  Mazel Tov, Dickhead.
Posted by: DK70 the scantily clad   2009-05-06 01:46  

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