Iraqi man sentenced to two years for attempting to sell ancient artifact

BAGHDAD — A criminal court in Baghdad has sentenced a man to two years in prison for attempting to sell an ancient Mesopotamian artifact, part of a broader effort to curb antiquities trafficking, authorities said.

According to a statement from the Judiciary Media Office, the Karkh Criminal Court found the defendant guilty of trying to sell a pottery artifact inscribed with cuneiform script for $15,000. The court convicted him under Article 44 of Iraq’s Antiquities and Heritage Law No. 55 of 2002, with reference to Article 132/3 of the Penal Code, which governs sentencing.

The sentence was described as “severe imprisonment,” a term used in Iraq’s legal system to indicate a more stringent custodial term than standard incarceration.

The ruling comes amid ongoing government efforts to combat the illegal trade of Iraq’s cultural and historical artifacts. In April, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities announced the receipt of 292 archaeological items — primarily clay tablets bearing cuneiform inscriptions — uncovered through an excavation partnership with the British Museum.

Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, more than 15,000 artifacts were looted from the National Museum in Baghdad, including rare and priceless Mesopotamian items. In recent years, Iraq has stepped up efforts to recover stolen heritage, including a landmark 2021 repatriation of around 17,000 looted pieces from the United States. Many of those artifacts date back more than 4,000 years and contain some of the earliest examples of Sumerian writing.