Iraq Reconstruction Ministry denies detention claim against undersecretary

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Construction, Housing and Municipalities has rejected reports circulating on social media and news websites alleging that Undersecretar Mütevekkil Abdulmun'im Haşim al-Jaafari, responsible for administrative and financial affairs, had been detained. In a written statement, the ministry said the reports did not reflect reality and confirmed that the undersecretary remains in his post. The ministry said it supports anti-corruption efforts but urged media outlets to verify information through official sources before publishing. It announced that legal action would be taken against individuals, media organizations and social media accounts responsible for what it described as defamatory content. No details were provided on the origin of the allegations. The ministry called on the public not to rely on unverified information.