Iraq higher education ministry denies authenticity of document on students abroad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has denied that a document circulating about Iraqi students studying abroad is genuine. In a written statement issued Monday, the ministry said no official correspondence regarding the calculation of duty and residency periods for overseas students had been issued by its offices. The ministry stressed that the rules attributed to it in the document, covering how time spent on assignment and in residency is counted, do not originate from its authority. Officials confirmed that the document does not reflect the ministry's position. Ministry officials called on students and the public not to be misled by the unverified paperwork. They urged reliance only on official communications issued through the ministry's own channels for accurate information on the matter. The ministry did not specify the source of the document or how it began circulating.