| Saraya al-Salam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founding leader | Muqtada al-Sadr |
| Foundation | 2014 |
| Dates of operation | 2014–2021 (as a Popular Mobilization Forces branch) 2021–2022 (as a semi-governmental political initiative) |
| Country | Iraq Syria[10] |
| Allegiance |  Iraq |
| Ideology | Shia Islamism Iraqi nationalism Sadrism |
| Size | 10,000–50,000 (2014, independent claims)[11][12] |
| Part of |
|
| Allies | Other Shia militias (de jure) None (de facto)[13] |
| Opponents |  Islamic State Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (2022)[14] |
| Battles and wars | Iraq–ISIL War ISIL insurgency in Iraq (2017–present) |
| Flag |  Flag of Iraq, used by the group along with the dove.[7] |
Saraya al-Salam (Arabic: سرايا السلام)[17][18] is an Iraqi Shia militia formed in 2014. They are a part of the Popular Mobilization Forces and are a partial revival of the Mahdi Army. The name Saraya al-Salam means "Peace Brigades", to signify this the militia also uses a dove as a heraldic symbol. The group's name, together with its logo – which features a dove flying in front of an Iraqi flag – reflects Sadr's effort to maintain a peace with both Sunnis and the Iraqi central government.[7] As of 2022, the group's operations are frozen, although it is still active but in smaller scale.
- ^ Bach, Marc; Müller, Alexander. "Internationale Nachrichten aus aller Welt". tagesschau.de (in German). Archived from the original on 20 Oct 2019.
The white dove refers to the militia of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Seraya al-Salam ("peace army"). Today it is an official part of the Iraqi Army of Iraqi Armed Forces, without being entirely under control of the Iraqi government.
- ^ "Samarra For UNESCO World Heritage Travellers". www.worldheritagesite.org. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
The population is predominantly Sunni, but the law enforcement is provided by a Sadrist Shi'ite militia (Saraya al-Salam – their emblem, the peace dove is ubiquitous on grafitties in the city).
- ^ Nada, Garett; Rowan, Mattison (10 November 2021). "Profiles: Pro-Iran Militias in Iraq | The Iran Primer". iranprimer.usip.org. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
The militia's logo features a dove as well as a fighter holding an Iraqi flag and a rifle.
- ^ Rubin, Alissa J. (9 July 2014). "On the Road to Samarra, Glimpses of Iraq's New Fractured Reality". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
flies the flag of a new militia formed by the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, bearing a dove and his likeness.
- ^ El-Ghobashy, Tamer (5 July 2018). "Public enemy or savior? An Iraqi city could reveal the true Moqtada al-Sadr". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
logo of the Peace Brigades, a silhouetted fighter triumphantly holding an Iraqi flag, a rifle slung over his shoulder, next to a white dove in flight and the motto: "We bow to no one but God."
- ^ "'Salam 313': Sadr's motorbike militia gains foothold in Europe". FRB-I.
A backpatch of a freestanding dove is worn proudly by gang members. Their chosen insignia is borrowed from Sarayat al Salam, the Peace Brigade militia firebrand cleric Muqtada al Sadr commands.
- ^ a b c "The Militarization of Iraqi Politics" (PDF). Masarat (17): 12. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
The group's name, together with its logo – which features a dove flying in front of an Iraqi flag – reflects Sadr's effort to distance this new iteration from the Mahdi Army's tradition of brutal violence against both Sunnis and the Iraqi central government.
- ^ "Sadr suspends all armed factions, including Peace Brigades". The Arab Weekly.
- ^ Aug. 30, A. supporter of Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr rolls a mattress as an encampment in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone is dismantled on (30 August 2022). "Protesters withdraw from Baghdad's Green Zone – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Iraqi Shi'ite militants start to acknowledge role in Syria". Reuters. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Iraqi Shia groups rally in show of power". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 January 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Iraq crisis: Isis allies 'turn on jihadists' as 17 killed in clashes near Kirkuk". Telegraph. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
shiagroupswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Iraq: Heightened security reported in Amil District, Baghdad, following armed clashes in area late Dec. 25". Iraq: Heightened security reported in Amil District, Baghdad, following armed clashes in area late Dec. 25 | Crisis24.
- ^ "Video shows burning village near Tikrit : "Shiite militias wanted revenge"". The Observers. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Iraqi forces pause in battle to drive Islamic State from Tikrit". Reuters. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ Daniel Cassman. "Mahdi Army". Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Shia paramilitary 'Peace Brigades' kill 30 ISIS fighters says Akili – Iraqi News". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.