Qais Al Khazali

Qais Hadi Sayed Hasan al-Khazali is an Iraqi politician and militant leader who is the founder and secretary-general of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, an Iraqi Shia paramilitary organization and political party. He is best known as the founder and leader of the Iran-backed Special Groups in Iraq from June 2006 until his capture by British forces in March 2007. He is among the most powerful openly anti-American politicians in Iraq and his influence in Iraqi politics has significantly grown in recent years.