Former Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan Al-Shammari
Monitor
Ex-justice minister urges Iraqis to ‘sue’ Syrian president over ‘terrorism’ allegations
BAGHDAD – Former Iraqi Justice Minister Hassan Al-Shammari has urged Iraqis affected by terrorism to file lawsuits against Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, accusing him of involvement in terrorist activities in Iraq.
“I called upon the Iraqi people and told them that anyone who has been affected by a terrorist act—whether injured or having lost family members—can file a legal complaint and a criminal lawsuit against Ahmed Al-Sharaa Al-Jolani,” Al-Shammari said in an interview with Ahad TV.
While acknowledging that Al-Sharaa can legally visit Iraq, Al-Shammari questioned the political implications, stating, “The government should consider the emotions of the Iraqi people.” He added that “a person who engaged in terrorist activities against Iraq—even if from Syrian territory—should not be received with presidential honors or granted Iraqi recognition.”
Al-Shammari also suggested that Syria send an alternative representative to the upcoming Arab League summit. The 34th regular Arab League summit is set to be hosted in Baghdad this year. The move came in response to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani during the 32nd Arab League summit in Riyadh in May 2023, with the decision announced as the 33rd summit concluded in Bahrain in May 2024.
Excerpts from Hassan Al-Shammari’s interview with Ahad TV:
Al-Jolani was detained by U.S. forces without any specific charges being brought against him. He was later released along with a group and removed from Iraq. After his release, he joined terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. He has admitted to this, and it has been broadcast in visual media.
For this reason, I called upon the Iraqi people and told them that anyone who has been affected by a terrorist act—whether injured or having lost family members—can file a legal complaint and a criminal lawsuit against Ahmed Al-Sharaa Al-Jolani. He is considered one of the prominent figures involved in inciting, planning, and executing terrorist acts in Iraq. They can turn to investigative courts and file a case against him. However, nothing of this sort has happened so far.
Legally and judicially, he can visit Iraq, but politically, I do not see this as appropriate. The government should consider the emotions of the Iraqi people.
The logic of reason and fairness dictates that a person who engaged in terrorist activities against Iraq—even if from Syrian territory—should not be received with presidential honors or granted Iraqi recognition.
At the very least, Syria could be asked to send a different representative to the upcoming Baghdad Summit instead of Al-Jolani.
Al-Jolani’s statement about “ending a 1,400-year-old dispute” indicates that his rhetoric is sectarian. He wants to portray the conflict between Syria and Iraq as a religious and sectarian issue stemming from disputes over the caliphate, which is not true. The conflict with Syria was not about that. Rather, we were attacked by ISIS, they infiltrated our land, and we fought them back beyond our borders.
Al-Jolani is not the choice of the Syrian people; he is a reality imposed by an unusual political equation. They seized the opportunity and took control, and the people welcomed them due to Bashar Al-Assad’s oppression. Al-Shar’a will truly represent the Syrian people when transparent and fair elections are held, in which all segments of the Syrian population participate. Only then will the government be legitimate, and we will respect the will of the Syrian people and accept their government.
