Antiquities inspector arrested over alleged extortion of foreign excavation missions

DIWANIYAH — An employee of the Diwaniyah Antiquities and Heritage Inspectorate has been arrested over allegations that he extorted foreign archaeological missions and took money from outside parties, the inspectorate said.

A joint security force working with the Integrity Commission’s investigations office made the arrest after an investigation into his conduct. “A joint security force with personnel from the Integrity Investigations Office carried out the arrest of an employee at the Diwaniyah Antiquities Inspectorate after his involvement in extorting foreign excavation missions and receiving money from external parties,” the inspectorate said.

The General Authority for Antiquities and Heritage backed the action, saying it was committed to combating financial and administrative corruption in all its forms and would not tolerate conduct damaging the international standing of Iraq’s archaeological institutions or its relations with foreign partners working on surveys and excavations. It said it would continue working to provide a safe and stable environment for foreign missions at archaeological sites.

The arrest follows other cases involving archaeological property. The National Security Service said this month it had seized hundreds of antiquities, manuscripts and rare gold coins in operations across five governorates and caught a government employee in Nineveh subdividing archaeological land into plots for sale.