Iraq bans protests ahead of Arab League summit in Baghdad

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Interior Ministry on Saturday announced a ban on demonstrations from May 11 to May 20, citing the need to focus security efforts on the Arab League summit, which Baghdad is hosting.

“The Iraqi Ministry of Interior affirms that no demonstration will be organised, whatever the reasons, whether service-related or otherwise, and there will be no permit to demonstrate,” the ministry said in a statement. “Any attempt will be against the law, and instructions have been issued to arrest anyone who tries to demonstrate from May 11 to the 20th of the same month.”

Baghdad will host the 34th Arab League summit on May 17, bringing together leaders and senior officials from the bloc’s 22 member states. The high-level summit will address pressing regional issues, including political, economic, and security challenges. The Iraqi government has invited Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to attend, sparking backlash from its own supporters.

 “We also affirm that the security forces will take the necessary legal measures against any demonstrator who tries to distract the security forces from their assigned duties during this
period,” the ministry said.

In March, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the government is working to ensure "all appropriate conditions" are in place for a successful summit to present “a positive image of the country.”

The Interior Ministry echoed this sentiment, saying the security forces are working “to secure this important event which will reflect the true image of this country” and have “devoted all their capabilities to welcoming Iraq’s guests.”

In recent years, Baghdad emerged as a key mediator between regional rivals, hosting multiple rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. These discussions, mediated by Iraq and Oman, culminated in a landmark China-brokered deal in March 2023 that normalized diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran after seven years of severed ties.

Iraq has also offered to mediate in other regional and international conflicts, including the Yemen conflict - described by the United Nations as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises - as well as the Russia-Ukraine war.