Iraq opens inquiry into archaeologist over remarks on artifact displayed in Kuwait

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's General Board of Tourism and Heritage, under the Ministry of Culture, has opened an investigation into archaeologist Amir Abdurrazzak following his comments about an Iraqi archaeological artifact exhibited in Kuwait. The artifact, attributed to Mesopotamian civilization in Iraq, was among items shown at a Kuwaiti exhibition held on December 9, 2025, in Guangzhou, China. Documents cited in the case state that the piece was presented at the exhibition among "rare pieces of the Kuwaiti royal family." Kuwait displayed 133 artifacts at the Guangzhou exhibition, including a piece known as the "Bronze Goat." A source speaking on the matter alleged that political pressure was applied to the General Board of Tourism and Heritage not to pursue the file. The same source claimed that thousands of Iraqi artifacts removed through illegal means are currently held in Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Abdurrazzak had called in his remarks for an investigation into the circumstances under which the artifact left Iraq. No further details on the inquiry were immediately available.