Al-Sudani Crosses Red Lines? Julani’s Invitation and Its Repercussions on the Iraqi Political Scene

In a controversial move, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani extended an invitation to the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), Abu Mohammed al-Julani, to attend the upcoming Arab summit scheduled to be held in Baghdad. This invitation has sparked debate not only within Iraq but also on regional and international levels, given Julani’s long-standing association with extremist organizations responsible for suffering and destruction in both Iraq and Syria. This development raises several questions about the political motivations behind the invitation and its potential impact on the Iraqi political landscape in the near future. -;-

Abu Mohammed al-Julani is one of the most prominent leaders of extremist organizations that emerged in Syria. He was the founder of Jabhat al-Nusra, affiliated with the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, before it later evolved into Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Over the past years, Julani’s name has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks and bombings that claimed the lives of thousands in both Syria and Iraq. Although Julani has recently attempted to modify his political image by renouncing some extremist positions, his bloody history with terrorist organizations makes his invitation to the Arab summit politically questionable.

Conversely, Iraq has witnessed a wave of violence and destruction at the hands of the Islamic State (ISIS), led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who, like Julani, was considered a symbol of terrorism, violence, and brutality, and was among the most internationally wanted individuals. If al-Baghdadi were alive today, any invitation extended to him to attend an Arab summit would undoubtedly provoke a greater and deeper uproar than the one caused by Julani’s invitation. Amid these circumstances, the question arises: Why is Al-Sudani taking this controversial step? -;-

It is noteworthy that Al-Sudani’s invitation to Julani may be an attempt to achieve rapprochement between various political parties in Iraq, which has suffered for decades from the repercussions of wars and conflicts, and is now seeking to reshape a new political scene that enhances its regional role. Perhaps Julani’s invitation is seen as a tactical step aimed at ending some conflicts with armed groups in Syria´-or-easing existing tensions between different factions in the region. However, will this be a successful political move? This requires a careful analysis of the risks that may result from this decision. In addition to the potential negative reactions within Iraq, where Julani is considered involved in the bloodshed of both Iraqis and Syrians, this decision may be perceived as a kind of retreat in the context of the Iraqi government’s commitment to combating terrorism. If the Iraqi government is serious about fighting terrorism and extremism, its invitation to a controversial figure like Julani may undermine its credibility in the eyes of the Iraqi people and the world.

Al-Sudani, who has enjoyed notable popularity during his tenure, may face new political challenges if he fails to manage local and international reactions effectively. In light of his candidacy for the parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, this invitation will serve as a real test of his ability to maintain his popularity amid this widespread controversy. The upcoming Iraqi elections will be decisive, as waves of division and popular protests dominate the political scene. Therefore, this invitation may negatively affect Al-Sudani’s image in the eyes of voters, especially amid widespread opposition from some political forces and popular entities that view Julani’s presence at the Arab summit table—if he attends—as a setback in combating terrorism and extremism. Moreover, his invitation may signal attempts to rehabilitate some controversial figures, including, of course, Raghad Saddam Hussein, which could provoke anger among broad segments of Iraqi society.

The Iraqi people, who have long suffered from the scourge of terrorism, cannot easily accept the idea of inviting a figure like Julani to attend an Arab summit in Baghdad. The Iraqi people have witnessed the destruction of their cities and the killing of hundreds of thousands at the hands of ISIS and other terrorist groups, and it will not be easy for them to accept the idea of dealing with their leaders as if they are part of a legitimate political scene.

On the Arab level, this step may open the door to widespread debate within the Arab world. Many Arab countries adopt strict positions toward terrorist organizations and have suffered from their atrocities, and Julani’s invitation may be seen as a sign of weakness´-or-concession to extremist groups and their supporters. Such a step may also cause divergent positions among the countries participating in the summit, except for those that support Julani, especially if some of these countries have been -dir-ectly affected by the terrorism of Jabhat al-Nusra´-or-ISIS.

What will determine the impact of this invitation on the Iraqi political scene is how the government handles popular and international reactions. If Al-Sudani can convince public opinion of the merits of this invitation and provide convincing justifications, this step may succeed in improving Iraq’s relations with some regional powers that support Julani. However, if Al-Sudani fails to manage this issue wisely, it may lead to the erosion of popular support for him and negatively affect his chances in the upcoming elections.

In the end, the most important question remains: Will this invitation lead to genuine rapprochement between the conflicting political parties internally,´-or-will it create more tensions and conflicts? The coming days will reveal the answer, and Al-Sudani must be prepared to deal with any repercussions that may result from this step.

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