Qais al-Khazali Warns Against Premature Visit of Syrian Interim President to Iraq Amid Legal Complications
“The presence of the current Syrian regime’s president in Iraq is premature, as it may lead to legal repercussions if the law is enforced and he is arrested by security forces, given the existence of an active arrest warrant against him,” al-Khazali wrote.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement and a prominent figure within the Coordination Framework, issued a pointed warning on Saturday regarding the potential visit of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Iraq, describing it as “premature” and legally problematic. The statement was shared on his official X account.
Al-Khazali emphasized that while maintaining strong relations between Iraq and Syria is essential and serves mutual interests, the current timing for hosting al-Sharaa is inappropriate. “The presence of the current Syrian regime’s president in Iraq is premature, as it may lead to legal repercussions if the law is enforced and he is arrested by security forces, given the existence of an active arrest warrant against him,” al-Khazali wrote. He stressed that under Iraq’s legal framework and principle of separation of powers, adherence to judicial decisions is obligatory for all parties.
— قيس الخزعلي (@Qais_alkhazali) April 19, 2025
This statement comes amid rapidly evolving developments in the region. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha earlier this week, in what Iraqi state media described as a “quick visit” to address regional instability, particularly in Syria. This marked the first direct meeting between Iraqi and Syrian leaders since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
Sudani, who recently extended an invitation to Sharaa to attend the Arab League summit scheduled in Baghdad this May, reportedly used the Doha meeting to call for an inclusive political solution in Syria. He emphasized the need to protect all social, religious, and national components, and urged the Syrian government to take “serious steps to combat” the Islamic State group. According to INA, Sudani also highlighted that progress on these issues would bolster Iraqi-Syrian relations and contribute to regional stability.
If al-Sharaa accepts the invitation, it will be his first public visit to Iraq, the country where he was once imprisoned for years on charges of belonging to al-Qaeda after the 2003 U.S.-led freedom operation.
Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad last month and affirmed his government’s readiness to enhance cooperation with Iraq in the fields of security and trade.
Al-Khazali’s remarks highlight the legal and political sensitivities surrounding Iraq’s approach to post-Assad Syria and reflect broader tensions within Iraq’s political landscape over how to engage with a transitional Syrian leadership.
