Baghdad: A formal invitation to the impending Arab League mountain in Baghdad for new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has sparked strong political divisions in the country.
Al-Sharaa gained strength in December after leading a thunder rebel offensive that removed Bashar Assad from power. Since therefore, he has established himself as a leader who wants to join and recover his nation after roughly 14 years of civil war, but his prior involvement as a Sunni Islamist radical has worried some Islamist groups in Iraq.
After the US-led war in 2003, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida rebels fighting US forces in Iraq. He is also facing a warrant for his arrest on violence charges in Iraq.
Following a originally unexpected meeting between the two in Qatar, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed last week that Iraq had extended a formal proposal to al-Sharaa to the May 17 conference. Al-Sharaa has never made any changes to her attendance.
Iraq has aimed to establish itself as a local mediator in the region because of its close ties to both Iran and the United States. Before reaching a deal to adjust relationships, local rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia met for speaks.
Some local and Iraqi stakeholders see the invitation as a chance to improve Baghdad’s reputation as a hub for local diplomacy.
However, powerful Shiite groups that are close to Iran have launched strong opposition to al-Sharaa’s offer. The Syrian government, which supported Assad in Syria’s legal conflict and used Syria as a conduit for the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, was widely perceived as the biggest loser as a result of his resignation.
During the civil war that followed Assad’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011, some Iraqi Shiite armies fought alongside him, making al-Sharaa a particularly delicate number for them.
In a videos posted on X, previously Online, Mustafa Sand, a part of the Coordination Framework, claimed the foreign ministry had contacted Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council to check whether an arrest warrant had been issued against al-Sharaa and that the committee had verified the existence of a true warrant.
The existence of the permit was revealed to The Associated Press by a security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to post.
The Islamic Dawa Party, led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, one of the most powerful individuals in Iraq’s decision partnership, called on the government to “ensure that any mountain member has a clean criminal record, both locally and internationally,” adding that” the heart of Iraqis is not cheap, and those who have violated their purity or committed crimes against them should not be welcomed in Baghdad.”
A statement from a member of the effective military Kataib Hezbollah, Abu Ali Al-Askari, read:” Muslim summits have been held without President Assad, Iraq, or Libya. Because Abu Mohammad al-Golani, a fugitive, isn’t attending, they didn’t stop, without a doubt.
Sunni political parties have gathered to support al-Sharaa’s participation in the conference. Past Sunni MP Dhafir Al-Ani said he supports Baghdad’s efforts to bolster relations with the new Syrian government.
” Preventing his presence would be a kill in the center of the Iraqi government and a signal that murder still governs the country’s fate,” he said.
The state of Iraq has never publicly addressed the criticism.
Al-Sharaa might not always be able to join the conference without a permit. Different nations have opted not to implement similar actions. The United States announced in December that it had decided not to pursue a$ 10 million reward for al-Sharaa’s capture, even though Washington hasn’t yet formally recognized the new Syrian government.
However, according to observers, the controversy shows heavy political divisions in Iraq and highlights the difficulties faced by efforts to reconcile the country.
According to social scientist Munaf Al-Musawi, mind of the Baghdad Center for Strategic Studies,” some watch welcoming al-Sharaa as an affront to the storage of Iraq’s sufferers, while Sunni groups view his involvement as a political victory.” This” had run the risk of igniting religious animosities.”
