![Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (L) meets with Ammar al-Hakim (R), the leader of Iraq's Shiite Muslim Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), on August 28, 2014 at the latter's house in the holy city of Najaf. Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric Sadr had announced the creation of the Saraya al-Salam armed group, tasked with defending the holy sites of Shiite Islam, in the aftermath of the jihadist Sunni Muslim offensive that began in June 2014. AFP PHOTO / HAIDAR HAMDANI (Photo credit should read](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/03/GettyImages-454284996.jpg/GettyImages-454284996.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=QRfHe2hY)
Ammar Alsawad writes about political and religious affairs and has produced political programs since 2004. He writes for a number of Iraqi and Arab newspapers.
![Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (L) meets with Ammar al-Hakim (R), the leader of Iraq's Shiite Muslim Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), on August 28, 2014 at the latter's house in the holy city of Najaf. Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric Sadr had announced the creation of the Saraya al-Salam armed group, tasked with defending the holy sites of Shiite Islam, in the aftermath of the jihadist Sunni Muslim offensive that began in June 2014. AFP PHOTO / HAIDAR HAMDANI (Photo credit should read](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/03/GettyImages-454284996.jpg/GettyImages-454284996.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=QRfHe2hY)
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![Ammar Alsawad](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2017/AmmarAlsawad.jpg/AmmarAlsawad.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=c_OMFnpB)
Ammar Alsawad
![Iraqi Sunni Muslim fighters from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) take part in a parade during a ceremony marking the Iraqi Police Day at Amiriyat al-Fallujah in Anbar province, January 9, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX21NHG](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/11/RTX21NHG.jpg/RTX21NHG.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=Icw2cohE)
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Ammar Alsawad