| First Sadr Uprisng | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ba'athist Iraq | Shi'ite rebels | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Saddam Hussein | Amina al-Sadr  | ||||||
The1979–1980 Shia uprising in Iraq, also known as theFirst Sadr Uprising, took place as a followup to theIranian Revolution (1978–1979) in neighbouring Iran, as the Shia Iraqi clerics vowed to overthrowBa'athist Iraq, dominated by (secular) Sunni Muslims - specifically theSaddam Hussein family. Saddam and his deputies believed that the riots had been inspired by the Iranian Revolution and instigated by Iran's government.[1] The riots erupted in May 1979 and escalated in June - leading to thousands being tortured and killed in Najaf. The uprising subsided with the April 1980 arrest of the leader of Shia Iraqis,Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and his subsequent execution.
Al-Sadr's works attracted the ire of theBaath Party leading to repeated imprisonment where he was often tortured. Despite this, he continued his work after being released.[2] When the Baathists arrested Ayatollah Al-Sadr in 1977, his sisterAmina Sadr bint al-Huda made a speech in the Imam Ali mosque in Najaf inviting the people to demonstrate. Many demonstrations were held, forcing the Baathists to release Al-Sadr who was placed under house arrest.
In 1979–1980, anti-Ba'ath riots arose in the Iraq's Shia areas by groups, who were working toward an Islamic revolution in their country.[3] Saddam and his deputies believed that the riots had been inspired by the Iranian Revolution and instigated by Iran's government.[1] In the aftermath of Iran’s revolution, Iraq’s Shiite community called on Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr to be their “Iraqi Ayatollah Khomeini”, leading a revolt against the Ba'ath regime.[4][better source needed] Community leaders, tribal heads, and hundreds of ordinary members of the public paid their allegiance to al-Sadr.[4] Protests then erupted in Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite provinces of the south in May 1979.[4] For nine days, protests against the regime unfolded, but were suppressed by the regime.[4] The cleric’s imprisonment led to another wave of protests in June after a seminal, powerful appeal from al-Sadr’s sister, Bint al-Huda. Further clashes unfolded between the security forces and protestors. Najaf was put under siege and thousands were tortured and executed.[4]
Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr was finally arrested on 5 April 1980 with his sister,Sayedah Bint al-Huda.[5] They had formed a powerful militant movement in opposition toSaddam Hussein's regime.[6]
On 9 April 1980, Al-Sadr and his sister were killed after being severely tortured by their Baathist captors.[2] Signs of torture could be seen on the bodies.[6][7][8] The Baathists raped Bint Houda in front of her brother.[8] An iron nail was hammered into Al-Sadr's head and he was then set on fire in Najaf.[2][5] It has been reported that Saddam himself killed them.[6] The Baathists delivered the bodies of Baqir Al-Sadr and Bintul Huda to their cousin Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr.[6] They were buried in theWadi-us-Salaam graveyard in the holy city ofNajaf the same night.[5] His execution raised no criticism from Western countries because Al-Sadr had openly supported AyatollahKhomeini in Iran.[7]
The1999 Shia uprising in Iraq (orSecond Sadr Uprising[9]) took place in Iraq in early 1999 following the killing ofMohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr by the thenBa'athist government of Iraq.[10] The protests and ensuing violence were strongest in the heavily Shia neighborhoods ofBaghdad, as well as southern majorityShiite cities such asKarbala,Nasiriyah,Kufa,Najaf, andBasra.[11]
