A leaked document obtained by The Media Line [1] reveals that Iraqi lawmakers are seeking the arrest of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as “Abu Mohammad al-Jolani,” ahead of his expected appearance at the upcoming Arab League Summit in Baghdad. The memo, sent from Iraq’s Council of Representatives to the Office of the Public Prosecutor, accuses al-Sharaa of terrorism and document forgery stemming from his earlier activities in Iraq.
The document refers to al-Sharaa’s past leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group the US has designated as a terrorist organization. According to a senior diplomatic source, the legal action was timed to preemptively block his entry into Iraq. Over 50 Iraqi lawmakers have since petitioned the speaker of parliament to deny al-Sharaa’s visit, with Shiite MP Yousef al-Kalabi calling it “a moral and national duty.”
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Still, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has extended an official invitation, arguing that Syria remains an essential regional partner. He urged critics to focus on present diplomacy, not past conflicts. Al-Sharaa’s journey from jihadist commander to transitional president—after the Assad regime fell in 2024—has divided opinion across the Arab world.
Analysts warn that his presence could cast a shadow over the summit, once seen as a moment for Iraq to reassert diplomatic leadership. Syrian opposition figures say the episode may define how far Arab states are willing to go in rehabilitating former combatants.
Rizik Alabi reports that the controversy raises larger questions about justice, memory, and the limits of political reintegration. Read his full article [1] for more.