Iraqi political leaders, parliamentarians, and powerful armed factions are intensifying efforts to prevent Syria’s Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, born Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa from attending the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad.
More than 50 MPs from Iran-aligned Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah have filed criminal complaints accusing Jolani of terrorism, although it remains unclear whether Iraq’s courts will take up the case.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani had previously announced Jolani’s invitation to the summit, set for May 17. However, opposition from influential political groups has been swift, with some MPs demanding that the government bar Jolani’s visit. Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s Yusuf al-Kilabi and Kataib Hezbollah leader Qais al-Khazali voiced strong objections, citing an outstanding arrest warrant for Jolani issued by the Iraqi judiciary.
The Islamic Dawa Party, a key player in Iraq’s ruling Coordination Framework, also voiced its opposition, stating that all summit participants should have a “spotless” legal record. This statement appeared to target Jolani directly, who has faced accusations of war crimes and terrorism in both Syria and Iraq, including mass executions and targeting civilians. The party emphasized that Iraq should not host anyone “implicated in heinous crimes,” drawing comparisons to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces international travel restrictions.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group classified as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union. He is alleged to have committed war crimes and terrorism during the Syrian civil war and in Iraq. HTS, which initially emerged as an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, formally severed ties with the terrorist group in 2016, though this move is widely regarded as symbolic.
While Prime Minister al-Sudani recently met with Jolani in Qatar to discuss cooperation between Iraq and Syria, the meeting sparked outrage in Baghdad, with critics accusing him of legitimizing Jolani’s leadership. The Arab League summit in Baghdad has become a flashpoint for these tensions, with some arguing that Iraq should proceed with the event without Jolani.
The Iraqi judiciary has yet to make an official statement on the complaints against Jolani, and Syria has not responded publicly. As Jolani repositions himself as a legitimate political leader after Bashar al-Assad’s downfall, his potential attendance at the summit remains highly contentious.