Sadr City (formerly known as Saddam City and Al Thawra) is a vast low-income neighbourhood in northeastern Baghdad, home to some two million Shi'a Muslims. It is the seat of power of Muqtada al-Sadr, its de facto ruler and son of its namesake, Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr
After suffering a variety of ill effects under the government of Saddam Hussein (a Sunni), Shi'as in the district claimed a degree of autonomy from the rest of Iraq after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003, with their own police force, clinics, and food distribution. At the same time, the city was unofficially renamed Sadr City.
The city is apparently run by local Shi'a clerics like Muqtada al-Sadr, who claim to take orders from upper-level Shi'a clerics in Najaf. They indicate that it is uncertain whether the city will return to the control of a national civil government if one is established.
Saddam City was also the name given by the Iraqi government to Kuwait City during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990-1991.
After suffering a variety of ill effects under the government of Saddam Hussein (a Sunni), Shi'as in the district claimed a degree of autonomy from the rest of Iraq after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003, with their own police force, clinics, and food distribution.
The landmark of Sadr City is undoubtedly the large municipal building; which was reportedly ordered constructed for Saddam Hussein, who gave a single speech from its balcony and never returned to either the building or the city again.
SaddamCity was also the name given by the Iraqi government to Kuwait City during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990-1991.
Kuwait City's trade and transportation needs are served by Kuwait International Airport, Mina Al-Shuwaik (Shuwaik Port) and 50 kilometers to the south by the port of Mina al-Ahmadi (Ahmadi Port) on the Persian Gulf coast.
The city was invaded and seized by Iraqi forces in the 1991 Gulf War.
Under Iraqi occupation it was renamed SaddamCity in honor of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
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