Iraqi Politicians Seek to Block Syrian Leaders Visit to Baghdad Next Month
A growing bloc of Iraqi politicians is seeking to block Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa from entering Iraq next month, following his official invitation by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani to attend the Arab League Summit scheduled for May 17 in Baghdad.
More than 50 members of Iraq’s Council of Representatives have reportedly signed a memo that was sent to the Office of the Public Prosecutor calling for legal action against al-Sharaa. The action appears aimed at stopping al-Sharaa from visiting Baghdad for the Summit.
The effort follows growing backlash over al-Sharaa’s invitation by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, particularly considering the Syrian leader’s past involvement in extremist activity during Iraq’s insurgency era.
Al-Sharaa, formerly a senior figure in Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later a founder of its Syrian offshoot in 2012, has known ties to Islamic State leaders, including founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Despite this, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani secretly met with him last Tuesday in Doha, Qatar — a meeting that remained undisclosed until Thursday. During the talks, Sudani extended an invitation to al-Sharaa to attend the Arab League Summit in Baghdad next month.
The move has drawn harsh criticism from within Iraq’s Shia political factions, many of whom view al-Sharaa’s legacy — including past admissions of sectarian violence — as incompatible with Iraq’s efforts toward national reconciliation. Concerns are also growing over Syria’s current human rights record under al-Sharaa, particularly regarding mass documented violence against religious minorities.
Prime Minister Al Sudani has responded to mounting criticism over his invitation to al-Sharaa, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and regional cooperation over historical grievances. Notably, Sudani was one of the few Arab leaders who refrained from publicly congratulating al-Sharaa when he was formally appointed as Syria’s interim president in January.