It is no secret to any observer that the presence of war criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity is not new at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The inclusion of Ahmad al-Shar‘a (Abu Muhammad al-Julani, as listed in Security Council documents and the Counter-Terrorism Committee) constitutes a serious violation of the principles and norms declared by the United Nations as an organization dedicated to maintaining international peace and security.
Over the past 14 years, the Security Council has issued only one unanimous resolution—Resolution 2254—which specifically addresses ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra in a detailed paragraph urging all countries in the region to combat these groups. Last month, the Council reaffirmed the necessity of implementing this resolution. Therefore, this event constitutes a humiliating precedent and a blatant breach of international counter-terrorism principles and resolutions endorsed by the General Assembly and the Security Council. It also represents a betrayal of the memory of the victims and a trampling of human dignity.
The Syrian National Bloc, based on its vision of building a democratic civil state that reflects the will of the Syrian people and their aspirations for freedom, dignity, and national sovereignty, strongly rejects Ahmad al-Shar‘a’s participation in the work of the United Nations General Assembly as a “representative of the Syrian people.” Such representation has never occurred legitimately; it was imposed through a “military operations room”, where more than half of the participants are listed on international terrorism sanctions.
How can this international organization turn a blind eye to the continuation of sectarian terrorist and criminal practices against the Syrian people in the coastal region and Sweida? Have the killings, kidnappings, starvation, sieges, and arbitrary arrests ceased? Do Syrian men and women enjoy safety under the control of these factions? And does the United Nations uphold its own resolutions when it allows such actions?
The Syrian people, who have made immense sacrifices for over a decade in pursuit of freedom and justice, cannot have their representation reduced to a dictatorial authority that holds no electoral or constitutional legitimacy and does not reflect the true will of Syrians.
The Syrian National Bloc believes that allowing al-Shar‘a to participate and ascend the podium at the United Nations constitutes standing in opposition to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people for democratic change, the end of tyranny, terrorism, and occupations, and the establishment of a state founded on the principle of equal citizenship.
The Syrian National Bloc stresses that any representation of Syrians in international forums must be based on national and popular legitimacy, deriving from the free will of all Syrian citizens.
Damascus, 23.09.2025
Syrian National Block