Mahmud al-Hasani al-Sarkhi

Mahmud al-Hasani al-Sarkhi is an Iraqi Shia cleric in Iraq. In June 2006, his followers attacked the Iranian consulate in Basra and tore down its flag in protest over criticism of their leader broadcast on Iranian television. He called for an independent inquiry into the Battle of Najaf in 2007, which many believed was a massacre by Iraqi security forces. In April 2012, his followers were involved in clashes with supporters of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. On July 3, 2014 Iraqi police and armed forces attempted to arrest al-Sarkhi in Karbala, leading to clashes between his supporters and government forces that killed 45 people.