By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Embattled Iraqi Shi’ite leader Moqtada Al-Sadr said Friday he decided to retire from politics for the time being for several reasons.
“On top of the reasons are the growing splits within the Sadrist movement,” according to a statement issued by Al-Sadr office here.
“The political life is exclusively open for secularists. It turned to be a field of sedition.
“So, I will retire from politics temporarily pending the removal of reasons for my retirement,” he said.
“Large numbers of close aides and followers split from ‘the houza’ (religious school) for mere worldly reasons to achieve personal gains and reach power,” he regretted.
Al-Sadr admitted failure in two major issues, namely the liberation of Iraq and turning the country into a purely Muslim society.
“The failure could be a result of my shortcomings, the society’s or both of us,” he acknowledged.
“The continued existence of occupation and the split of many followers prompted me to boycott politics in protest.
“I have sacrificed a lot of my life for the society till my body grew weak, my health grew poor and my concerns grew grave.
“It is time to focus on reading,” he made clear.
Al-Sadr’s statement came in response to questions by his followers on his absence from public for months.