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Moqtada al-Sadr a Fan of Detective Novels
October 24, 2008 12:11 PM
By ALI AL MASHAKHEEL, ABC News Baghdad
Better known for fiery sermons against America’s military presence in Iraq, the Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr has revealed a softer side of his character, saying that as a young man he enjoyed reading Agatha Christie detective novels.
The disclosure came during a rare appearance by the cleric in a 45-minute exclusive interview on an Iraqi TV station.
During the interview, al Sadr concentrated mostly on his childhood, saying that he grew up with a fear of Saddam Hussein’s regime because members of his family were politically opposed to the former Iraqi dictator.
Al Sadr told Afak TV station, “I liked to read detective stories,” particularly those of Agatha Christie, an English novelist who traveled extensively through Iraq in the early 20th century.
In her opening chapter of "Murder on the 0rient Express," Christie describes a railway journey across Iraq by a young English woman in her 20s.
When compared to the current level of danger and violence in Iraq, it’s a revealing insight into how safe it once was to travel the country.
Iraq also features in another Agatha Christie novel called "Murder in Mesopotamia."
In an answer to the question of what he likes to read other than religious books, al Sadr said, “I read Arabic poetry.”
He also talked about the history of his family and his own history, such as where and when and where he was born. “I was born in Najaf in 1974.”
This in itself is new information from the normally reclusive political leader -- many people were not even sure about his birth year.
Then al Sadr moved on to his past life as a student in a religious school in the holy city of Najaf, where he was submerged in Shiite values.
Al Sadr even mentioned some names of his fellow students in the school, his teachers and the books he read as a student.
Muqtada Al Sadr looked thinner than in past appearances and was seen wearing glasses in public for the first time.
For several years now, the Pentagon has insisted that al Sadr has been living in Iran, but Afak TV station didn’t say where or when the interview took place.
In past statements, al Sadr has insisted he is in Najaf, completing religious studies with an aim to becoming an ayatollah.
Al Sadr has not been seen in public since May 26, 2007, when he delivered a sermon at Friday prayers in Kufa.
His last televised appearance came during an interview aired last March on Al Jazeera TV.
Read more by Ali Al Mashakheel.
October 24, 2008 in Ali Al Mashakheel | Permalink | User Comments (10)
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His father was murdered by Saddam Hussein...you'd think the guy would have a little less resentment at the US military for eventually executing his father's killer...
Posted by: Jazz | Oct 24, 2008 12:27:58 PM
is this news? who cares? does he also like long walks on the beach
Posted by: hip | Oct 24, 2008 12:49:20 PM
ohhhhhh ain't this sweet..ABC falling in love with another Terrorist' Lets kill some more Americans ok ABC good job
Posted by: I want my money back | Oct 24, 2008 1:01:51 PM
Can you say books on tape.
Posted by: porkchop | Oct 24, 2008 1:08:03 PM
Actually this is a great story. We've heard nothing but bad things about this man, and here we get an insight into his personality. He's no different from you or me. He's human. He just choses to oppose our military occupying his home. Any American would feel the same way. The only thing he doesn't understand is that if we left, right now, pulled everyone back, there is a high chance that the country would fall into heavy violence, and possibly civil war. But it also speaks volumes that the Iraqi government wants us to leave now. Which is a sign that they're ready to move forward as a nation, instead of warring factions.
Posted by: Lawrence | Oct 24, 2008 1:08:46 PM
Hitler liked dogs too. How is this relevant? What a bunch of dopes at ABC!
Posted by: Steve Langford | Oct 24, 2008 1:28:30 PM
No different from you or me. I guess you go killing US soldiers for fun and cut peoples heads off because you don't like what they say.
Posted by: retired | Oct 24, 2008 1:38:39 PM
Retired, if you can show me an article that says that he himself killed people like that instead of just his followers, I'll believe you. But you cannot tell me, that not one single American would never act the same way, if some other country's armed forces were occupying the US.
Posted by: Lawrence | Oct 24, 2008 2:29:33 PM
> Dude, that's exactly like saying, "Show me one body of a dead Iraqi who was killed by GWB"...there isn't one...but with that said I agree with your first post completely...
Posted by: Jazz | Oct 24, 2008 6:29:07 PM
> Dude, that's exactly like saying, "Show me one body of a dead Iraqi who was killed by GWB"...there isn't one...but with that said I agree with your first post completely...
Posted by: Jazz | Oct 24, 2008 6:29:08 PM
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