“Though outspokenly opposed to the US invasion from the outset, [radical Shi’a cleric Moqtada] al-Sadr initially urged peaceful protest and non-violence. However, when the US occupation authorities banned his newspaper al-Hawza, on 4 April 2004 he led the first major armed uprising in the postwar period, ordering his followers to ‘terrorize’ the enemy and threatening to begin using suicide bombers. The uprising lasted until 6 June when a truce was established.”
– Abdel Bari Atwan, The Secret History of al Qaeda, Page 210