Muqtada al-Sadr announces closure of al-Sadat guesthouse in Najaf

NAJAF, Iraq — Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of Iraq's Sadrist movement, announced the closure of his family's al-Sadat guesthouse in Najaf, saying the decision completes a transition toward a "reform-oriented" focus in Karbala. In a post on X on Saturday, al-Sadr said he took pride in hosting visitors to Najaf, the city of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and apologized for any shortcomings during the guesthouse's operation. He urged followers who had set out on the journey to seek closeness to God to press on with their purpose. Al-Sadr framed the closure as the completion of a move toward a reform-oriented direction in Karbala. He expressed hope of meeting visitors again during the traditional 40th-day commemoration. His post also included prayers for followers and a call for protection against what he described as "Zionist-American" hostility. No further details about the transition plan or the guesthouse's timeline were immediately available.