“In June 2003 he [Iraqi theologian and political leader Moqtada al-Sadr] established a militia group, the Mehdi Army, in defiance of coalition arms controls, pledging to protect the Shia religious authorities in the holy city of Najaf.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– BBC News Staff, “Profile: Moqtada Sadr,” BBC News, Jan. 8, 2011