President of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa addressed the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) on September 25, 2025. This was indeed a historic comeback for Syria, as the nation is speaking at the UN platform, after a massive gap of 60 years. However, it would have been a really accomplishing moment, if the Syrian leader was an elected or legitimate authority. Apparently, Ahmad al-Sharaa is a UNSC designated terrorist and a former member of the notorious Al-Qaeda terror camp. He ofcourse, faces a travel ban, yet visited New York to speak at the UN forum.
Addressing the world leaders, Ahmad al-Sharaa reiterated, “Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world”. As far as Damascus is concerned, the representation at the UNGA can be a historic moment. But starking sight was that world nations gathered in UNGA applauded and acknowledged for a terrorist sanctioned under the UNSC 1267 list and a former member of Al-Qaeda. The man who was responsible for ISIS style brutalities, who has undertaken torture, looting, beheadings and mass displacement of the innocent civilians is today, given a podium and an opportunity to speak at the esteemed UNGA platform. The world-nations listened to the world-view of a UNSC designated terrorist in a forum which is been actually established to listen to the legitimate concerns of the nations that champion for global peace, security and sustainable development.
This raises serious questions regarding the true purpose, agenda of the United Nations. To what extent the nations who applauded for Ahmad al-Sharaa truly advocate and work for global peace and development, is a serious concern. Probably, this is a biggest mockery of the UN charter and its backers who school and urge other nations for abiding international law. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim President of Syria, who is also the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham(HTS)-an Islamist Organisation, came to power in 2024, by ending the 54 years of hereditary rule of the Assad family in Syria.
HTS, an Islamist Organization abruptly took over the power in an offensive insurgency and ousted the Bashaar Assad regime. It is also said that the minority communities of Syria such as the Druze, who reside in the mountainous regions of the country still suffer from human rights violations and other atrocities under the rule of Ahmad al-Sharaa, while the President preaches about co-existence and minority rights in global platforms. Recently, Trump administration in the United States has revoked the designation of HTS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO). Such double-standards by the world nations, where they invite, listen to and applaud for a terror designate, is a true mockery of the international law.
Meanwhile, when Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the United Nations more than 100 diplomats and 50 nations walked out refuting to listen to the world-view of Israel. The reason that the nations critical of Tel Aviv asserts is, Israel is conducting an inhuman massacre in Gaza. On the other hand, world carefully listened to and acknowledged to a UN designated terrorist who is also responsible for numerous crimes. Just a testament to the path in which the United Nations is marching.
