Iraqi Interior Ministry denies kidnapping of student in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Interior Ministry on Thursday rejected claims that a high school student was kidnapped while traveling to an exam on the Rusafa side of Baghdad, saying the allegation was unfounded. The ministry said the case was raised by a television channel and that an investigation by the Baghdad Rusafa Police Command found no abduction had taken place. According to the ministry, investigators reviewed the route the student had taken and concluded there was no kidnapping. In her statement, the student admitted she had fabricated the story out of anxiety over the exam and fear of being punished by her father, the ministry said. The Interior Ministry announced that the investigation had clarified the matter and that the false claim had been resolved. No further details were immediately available.