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The National
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iraqi MP seeks legal action against Syrian President Al Shara
An Iraqi politician has filed a request to the country's public prosecution for legal action against Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara over his alleged operations as a fighter for Al Qaeda in Iraq two decades ago. The request is a rebuke to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who revealed at the Sulaymaniyah Forum in Iraq on Wednesday that he had invited Mr Al Shara to attend the Arab Summit in Baghdad next month. Memories are still raw among many Iraqis of a Sunni-led insurgency in which Mr Al Shara took part that plagued Iraq after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Iraqi MP Saud Al Saedi told The National on Sunday that he had received details from the Interior Ministry on cases against Mr Al Shara over his role with Al Qaeda, as well as related intelligence reports. Mr Al Saedi refused to elaborate but said the 'evidence, videos and confessions on his involvement in bloodletting in Iraq are strong'. Based on the Interior Ministry information, Mr Al Shara 'committed numerous crimes in killing Iraqis when he oversaw the suicide attacks as he was in charge of the special operations for Al Qaeda in Iraq', Mr Al Saedi said. 'We kindly request that you review this matter, pursue the complaint, and take judicial action against the aforementioned party as per to the attached documentation,' he added. The request is the latest in an anti-Al Shara campaign being led by Iraqi Shiites. More than 50 politicians have already signed a request asking the Speaker of Parliament to issue a block on him entering the country for the summit next month. Mr Al Shara was based in Iraq as a fighter for Al Qaeda before he broke ties with the extremist group in 2016 and created Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which took power in Damascus in December last year in a rebel offensive that toppled former president Bashar Al Assad. He was arrested by US troops in Iraq during the insurgency after 2003 and then released in 2011.
The National
20-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iraqi MPs try to block Syria's Al Shara from Arab Summit in Baghdad
Dozens of Iraqi politicians have signed a formal request to parliament that Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara be blocked from entering the country for the Arab Summit next month, objecting to his past ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Their request is a rebuke to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who revealed at the Sulaymaniyah Forum in Iraq on Wednesday that he had invited the Syrian President to attend the event in Baghdad scheduled for May 17. 'Yes, a formal invitation has been delivered to him, and he is welcome to attend and participate in the Arab Summit,' Mr Al Sudani told The National's Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi during a discussion at the forum. Following the event, a picture leaked of an unannounced meeting between Mr Al Sudani and Mr Al Shara that took place in Qatar on Tuesday. It was the first encounter between the two leaders and sparked outrage in Iraq mainly among Iran-backed Shiite political factions and armed groups. Many take issue with the Syrian President's past links with Al Qaeda in Iraq, where he served as a senior field leader for the terrorist group fighting American and Iraqi troops after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iraqi Shiite legislator Yousif Al Kilaby said late on Saturday that more than 50 politicians signed the request, which asked the Speaker of Parliament to issue a block on Mr Al Shara entering the country 'for the sake of the martyrs, their families, the wounded, the Iraqi people and the principles'. The legislature is yet to announce a date for a session to discuss the request. During the secret Qatar-brokered meeting between Mr Al Shara and Mr Al Sudani, the pair discussed 'rapid developments in the region, particularly the continuing situation in Syria', the official Iraqi News Agency said. It said Mr Al Sudani was 'closely monitoring the developments in Syria' and that he called for a 'comprehensive political process' in the country. The Iraqi leader made an appeal to 'protect Syria's diverse social, religious, and national fabric as well as safeguarding holy sites, houses of worship and places of prayer', the agency said. It said he stressed the importance of Syria 'taking practical and serious steps to combat the terrorist organisation ISIS'. According to Syrian state media, the meeting addressed the issue of joint border security, with both sides 'agreeing to strengthen field and intelligence co-ordination between the relevant authorities to counter shared threats'. On the economic front, they discussed mechanisms to revitalise trade relations, ease the movement of goods and people through border crossings, encourage mutual investment, and explore new avenues for co-operation in energy, transport and infrastructure. The fall of former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, who was a close ally of the government in Baghdad, has complicated relations between the neighbouring countries. Iraq remains scarred by decades of conflict since the US-led invasion, which was followed by a sectarian conflict, Al Qaeda insurgencies, and the rise of ISIS. In January, Mr Al Shara was appointed interim president of Syria and pledged to form an inclusive transitional government that would repair and build up public institutions and run the country until elections, which he said could take up to five years to hold. Syria has issued a constitutional declaration designed to serve as the foundation for the interim period led by Mr Al Shara. The declaration keeps a central role for Islamic law and guarantees women's rights and freedom of expression. If Mr Al Shara attends the Arab Summit, it would be his first public visit to Iraq since he was jailed for years in the country on charges of joining Al Qaeda after the 2003 US-led invasion.
Iraqi News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
UN Representative: Iraq has changed, and the progress made must be maintained
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan, said on Wednesday that today's Iraq is different from the previous one and progress made must be preserved. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan, said at the Sulaymaniyah Forum and attended by the reporter of the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Iraq has reached a stage that does not need the United Nations mission," pointing out that "Iraq today is different from the previous and progress made must be preserved." He added that "Iraq is facing a constitutional entitlement, which is the elections, which we are working on their success to stabilize the process of development and reform," noting that "the region needs the stability of Iraq." He pointed out that "the time has come for the people of the Middle East to live in safety and stability, and in the past years the situation in the region has been an occupation and external interventions." "A few years ago, children in Iraq and Gaza were killed in full view of everyone, in addition to the sale of women of other components, including Yazidis, as commodities by extremist gangs, and this is unacceptable," he said, stressing that "everyone must join efforts to unleash a new reality."
Iraqi News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Barzani: The plan put out by Prime Minister Al-Sudani to reconcile tensions between Baghdad and Erbil is sound
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani confirmed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's vision for resolving the differences between Baghdad and Erbil is correct. In his speech at the Sulaymaniyah Forum, attended by an Iraqi News Agency (INA) reporter, Barzani said, "The world is witnessing major radical and political changes that are altering international relations and regional and international balances." He noted that "wars, such as those occurring in Ukraine and Gaza, and intense economic competition, affect the entire region." He added, "The world faces common challenges in the area of climate change, which poses a threat to food security, migration, terrorism, and other risks. Many people around the world have been forced to relocate due to these events." He called on "the international community to assume shared responsibility for global issues that concern all of humanity." He continued, "We are pleased to witness the changes in the region and the achievement of peace. We affirm our support for all peace efforts and support any opportunity to establish peace in the region." He added, "The pursuit of peace is strength and an approach for those who believe in it, and it does not defeat anyone." He pointed out that "the world faces common challenges, and the Syrian government must represent all its components." He emphasized that "the Kurdistan Region believes in integration, and that the region's progress is a major strength added to Iraq." He emphasized "the firm commitment to the Iraqi constitution and that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani's vision for resolving the differences between Baghdad and Erbil is correct," calling for "the activation of the Kurdistan Parliament and the acceleration of the formation of the regional government."
