22.04.2025 15:20
The invitation extended by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara for the Arab League Summit has caused a major political crisis in the country. More than 50 Iraqi lawmakers have petitioned the parliament to ban Shara's entry into the country. Some political groups have argued that Shara should be arrested upon entering the country.
The invitation of Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani to Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara to the Arab League Summit to be held in Baghdad has led to a political crisis in the country.
Following Sharaa's invitation, more than 50 Iraqi parliamentarians applied to the parliament, demanding that the visit be banned, while some political groups argued that Shara should be arrested upon entering the country.
SHIITE MILITIAS ARE UNHAPPY
After it was revealed that Sudani officially invited Shara during a meeting in Qatar, strong reactions came especially from Shiite political blocs. Shiite parliamentarian Yusuf al-Kalabi stated, "Shara's entry into Iraq is a betrayal to us."
IRAN-BACKED GROUPS AND MILITARY WINGS ARE ALSO OPPOSED
Representatives of Iran-aligned militias in Iraq did not hide their reactions either. Kata'ib Hezbollah spokesman Abu Ali al-Askari questioned the justification for the invitation, while Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali found the invitation "premature" and suggested that Shara could be detained by Iraqi security forces.
'THERE ARE SECRET DOCUMENTS' IT WAS SAID
According to a report by the UK-based AmwajMedia, some secret documents shared on Telegram on the day of the meeting in Qatar were presented to the public with the claim that they contained information about Sharaa being held in detention by the US and Iraq between 2005 and 2011.
Syrian-American journalist Hassan Hassan argued that these documents aimed to provoke the Iraqi public, while also stating that there were no concrete evidence in the documents that could lead to accusations.
The Iraqi judiciary has so far refused to disclose whether there is an active arrest warrant against Shara.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani confirmed in a statement at the Sulaymaniyah Forum held last week that he invited Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara to the Arab League Summit planned to be held in Baghdad on May 17. In the same speech, Sudani also announced that he would run for re-election in the general elections scheduled for November 2025.
According to Amwaj.media, following this invitation, reactions towards Shara rose from both political and security circles in Iraq. More than 50 parliamentarians applied to the parliament, demanding that Shara's entry into Iraq be prevented. Some political figures suggested that if Shara were to come to the country, he should be arrested, referring to the period when he was held in detention in Iraq and the US between 2005 and 2011.
The Iraqi judiciary has not yet made an official statement regarding whether there is an active arrest warrant against Shara. However, leaders of some political and armed groups close to Iran have expressed that Shara could be detained if he enters Iraq.