Moqtada Tateral-Sadr
... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah...
, whose opinion holds sway over tens of thousands of supporters, called on his followers on Monday to join Friday protests in Baghdad, a move that could risk escalating tensions over government reforms.
The capital and many southern cities have witnessed demonstrations in recent weeks calling for the provision of basic services, the trial of corrupt politicians, and the shakeup of a system riddled with graft and incompetence.
Sadr's statement is the first direct appeal by a major party leader to participate in the protests, which emerged from anger over power cuts during a sweltering heatwave and have been mostly non-sectarian.
The protests and a call by another prominent Shiite holy man, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, to "strike with an iron fist" against corruption helped lead Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to launch a major reform campaign earlier this month.
"We announce to all people and to the Sadrists in particular the need to participate in protests this Friday in Baghdad", Sadr said through a televised speech by front man Salah al-Obeidi in the holy city of Najaf.
"The Sadrist participants should merge with the other protesters in a single, national Iraqi crucible."