Tension briefly flared at the al-Bukamal border crossing between Syria and Iraq on Thursday, 30 October, following the arrest of Syrian national Mohammad Ahmad Suleiman Hassan in Iraq, which sparked angry reactions in the border region.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria) reported that a minor altercation occurred at the Syrian-Iraqi border between a group of local young men and several Iraqi travelers in response to Hassan’s arrest in Iraq.

The young man’s case gained traction after reports claimed that he had been sentenced to death in Iraq for having a photo of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on his phone. However, Iraqi judicial authorities stated that the charge against him was affiliation with the Islamic State group.

According to local sources, Syrian Internal Security forces immediately detained those who attacked the Iraqi travelers, restoring normal movement through the crossing.

A security official in al-Bukamal, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Enab Baladi that those involved in the assault were arrested and referred to the judiciary.

The same official said the al-Bukamal Security Directorate hosted the Iraqi travelers afterward, stressing that the security forces are committed to the “safety and stability of Syria’s guests.”

Meanwhile, Mazen Alloush, Director of Public Relations at the General Directorate of Land and Sea Border Crossings, clarified in a Facebook post that the al-Bukamal – al-Qaim crossing was never closed and that movement between the two sides continues normally.

He explained that the incident was “an isolated individual act” that took place inside Syrian territory, where “a citizen attacked the car of an Iraqi traveler,” and that security forces immediately intervened and arrested the perpetrator while the Iraqi vehicle continued on its route inside Syria without disruption.

Alloush described the incident as “a personal act that in no way reflects the morals and values of the Syrian people, who hold deep respect and appreciation for their Iraqi brothers,” adding that Syria is a “state of law and institutions” that deals firmly and fairly with any misconduct.

Iraqi judiciary denies issuing a death sentence

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council denied issuing a death sentence against Mohammad Ahmad Suleiman Hassan over the presence of President al-Sharaa’s image on his phone, stating that the young man had confessed to praising the slain Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which led to the verdict against him.

A document circulated on social media showed a ruling sentencing 22-year-old Hassan to death by hanging, issued by the Criminal Court of Najaf under Article 4 of Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law.

The young man’s brother, Fouad Suleiman, said that Mohammad’s confessions were extracted under torture, including electric shocks, beatings, and intimidation.

In a statement posted on Facebook on 28 October, the Supreme Judicial Council clarified that reports claiming Hassan was arrested for sharing a video praising President al-Sharaa or containing Free Syrian Army material were false.

According to the Council, the verdict was related to Hassan’s confession to “praising the terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,” “encouraging the killing of Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces personnel in Tarmiyah,” and sharing related videos on his social media accounts.

The Council added that Hassan had also urged others to join the Islamic State and published videos showing himself burning a portrait of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, acts it said were intended to incite “chaos and sectarian strife” within Iraqi society.

The ruling, it emphasized, is not final, as it remains subject to automatic review by the Federal Court of Cassation once the case file is received.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry is following up

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it is formally following up on the case and verifying reports of a death sentence issued by an Iraqi court against a Syrian national.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, Director of Arab Affairs at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the case is being followed “through official channels with the Iraqi government to verify the authenticity of the published document and pursue the matter accordingly.”

Mohammad’s brother, Fouad Suleiman, who was also arrested in Iraq and later deported to Syria, said both were detained in March 2025 while in Iraq. Fouad was later released, while Mohammad remains in custody.