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Wednesday, 16 April 2025
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  • Report: Security Council Granted Ahmad al-Sharaa Exemptions from International Travel Ban

  • The continued inclusion of Ahmad al-Sharaa on international sanctions lists despite being granted travel exemptions reflects the reality of incomplete international recognition and persistent doubts a
Report: Security Council Granted Ahmad al-Sharaa Exemptions from International Travel Ban
Photo credit: Dano on VisualHunt.com

A report issued by a specialized committee of the UN Security Council revealed that exceptional exemptions from the travel ban were granted to interim transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa (previously known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani) and current Interior Minister Anas Khattab, despite their continued inclusion on international sanctions lists related to ISIS and Al-Qaeda organizations.

Official documents showed that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015) concerning counter-terrorism, approved on April 11, 2025, granting al-Sharaa an exemption from the travel ban to visit Turkey to participate in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum to discuss "urgent needs for stability and humanitarian assistance in Syria."

The same committee granted another exemption to al-Sharaa to visit the United Arab Emirates on April 13, 2025, with the aim of "participating in meetings related to regional security, stability, and reconciliation," according to official documents.

Analysts point out that al-Sharaa's continued classification on international terrorism lists and his need to obtain special exemptions for travel reflects ongoing international doubts about his past and previous affiliations with extremist organizations, despite his attempts to present himself as a moderate political leader.

These exceptional exemptions raise questions about the double standards in international dealings with the Syrian file, as the official text of the exemption shows the continued linking of al-Sharaa's name to the sanctions list related to ISIS and Al-Qaeda (QDi.317), while simultaneously granting him diplomatic facilities to move outside Syria and participate in international forums.

Experts in Syrian affairs view these exemptions as an attempt to test the extent of al-Sharaa's commitment to the pledges he made to the international community, at a time when indicators continue to raise doubts about the practices of Syria's interim caretaker government on the ground, especially regarding dealing with different societal components and ensuring basic freedoms.

Analysts believe that these exemptions represent an indicator of the international community's hesitation toward the new Syrian situation, as positions range between conditional openness and continued caution regarding the current leadership's past and affiliations.

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