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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) | TrackBack (0)

Iraq's National Body Building Championship

September 04, 2008 5:10 AM

By ALI HUSSEIN, ABC News, Baghdad

The southern city of Najaf has just hosted Iraq’s 2008 National Body Building Championship. This was the first time I’d been to anything like a body-building contest, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The backstage moments were particularly eye opening -- muscle-bound men slathering fake tan on one another.

One coach, when he saw my camera, yelled at his protege to pose, and you can see from this photo that he was only too happy to do so.

There was a real sense of excitement among the contestants. This was their big day.

And it was also a big day for those in the audience. While body building is not exactly mainstream in Iraq, it has a very loyal following, and spectators came from all over the country to watch. The journey for many would not have been without risk.

Despite the sweltering heat, the audience was in high spirits as it cheered for its favorite contestants. The temperature in the hall easily reached at least 110 degrees F. Air conditioning for the event was out of the question due to an electricity shortage, still a common problem throughout Iraq. Baghdad these days gets only between four and five hours of power a day.

You can see what a mess I was after an hour or so in the hall!

Still, everyone enjoyed the competition, and the winners went away with proud smiles on their faces.

September 4, 2008 in Ali Al Mashakheel | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)