Iraq MPS unite against former militants’ Arab League visit

Iraq MPS unite against Former militants’ Arab League visit: over 50 members of the Iran-aligned Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah factions have submitted complaints accusing the interim head of state, al-Sharaa, of terrorism, in an attempt to block him from the Arab League summit in Baghdad on May 17th.

The effort to block al-Sharaa’s visit is also being mounted by commanders of armed groups and political leaders, according to the New Arab.

The block against the visit is being described as a warning to the government not to give “legitimacy” to the new Syrian leader, as they blame him for the previous violence against Iraq.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, invited the new Syrian leader on the 16th of March to attend the Arab Summit scheduled to be held in Baghdad, making the invitation at the ninth Sulaimani Forum in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.

This led to the 50 MPS submitting criminal complaints against the Syrian leader, though Iraq’s court has not stated whether it will hear the case.

The issue with al-Sharaa’s visit also lies in the matter of his arrest warrant, which was issued by the Iraqi judiciary.

Asaib party leader Qais al-Khazali also said in a post on X on the 19th of April that Sharaa’s visit to Iraq was “premature” and that Iraqi authorities should respect the arrest warrant.

These warrants also arise from al-Sharaa’s history, from which he has attempted to distance himself through name and image changes.

Formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, al-Sharaa was the longtime commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, United Nations, and European Union.

During this time, he was accused of overseeing war crimes and acts of terrorism in both Syria and Iraq, including mass executions, targeting civilians, and arbitrary detention.

HTS formerly severed its ties with al-Qaeda in 2016, but it is believed by many that this is just for cosmetic value and not an actual denunciation of the terrorist group.

Just in March, attacks were carried out in the Northwestern region of Syria by new government forces, with over 1,000 people murdered, including civilians and the Alawite minority.

This action has left a dark cloud over the new government and has caused many to take a cautious view towards cooperation until they prove their ability to stabilise Syria.

Actions of the past and present by al-Sharaa have called into question his true aims and have led to another questioning of his power and authority by influential figures in Iraq who do not believe he is welcome at the next Arab League summit.

The New Arab, Maghbrei.org