Newborn baby girl found abandoned at religious shrine in Muthanna

MUTHANNA — A newborn baby girl, believed to be less than a month old, was found abandoned in the bathroom of the Sayyid Taklif shrine in Al-Khidhir district, Muthanna governorate, on Wednesday, according to a medical source. This is the second such incident within a week.

The infant was discovered after locals heard her cries and alerted authorities. “The baby girl was found in the shrine’s bathroom facilities and was taken to the hospital for immediate medical care,” a medical source confirmed to 964media. “She is in good health.”

The newborn has been transferred to the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Samawah, the governorate’s capital, for neonatal care. She will remain in the special ward until the local court approves a family for adoption.

This discovery follows a similar incident earlier in the week when another newborn, also less than a month old, was found abandoned near the same shrine. That infant, suffering from a heart defect, was taken to the hospital by local residents, but medical efforts to save her were unsuccessful.

“The baby had a hole in her heart, and her condition worsened due to constant crying,” the source added. “Despite our best efforts, she couldn’t be revived.”

Authorities have launched investigations into both cases and are urging anyone with information to come forward.