Babel Antiquities Department Denies Reports of Bronze Statues Found in al-Shumaili, Threatens Legal Action

mesoiraq - The Babel Antiquities and Heritage Inspectorate denied on Thursday (September 10, 2026) circulating reports about the discovery of bronze statues and skeletal remains in al-Shumaili district, confirming that legal measures will be taken and those responsible for misleading public opinion will be prosecuted.

The inspector explained that reports of a citizen's tip about an archaeological site containing statues and yellow Roman jars were inaccurate, noting that the site in question was flat land where a low wall section emerged during river dredging works, which were immediately halted by antiquity monitors.

He added that the inspectorate formed joint technical committees with security agencies and conducted field surveys that fully disproved the published claims, confirming that legal representatives have been instructed to file an official judicial complaint against everyone involved in publishing and misleading the public.