The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Washington has recovered three rare artifacts dating back to the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations, marking a new milestone in the country’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to protect its cultural heritage. The recovery was made possible through close cooperation with the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, reaffirming Iraq’s steadfast commitment to reclaiming its looted heritage and returning it to its rightful home.
A formal handover ceremony took place in New York, during which the receipt protocol was signed by Iraq’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Nazar Al Khirullah, and Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, Head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. This achievement reflects the strength of international collaboration in the fight against the illicit trade in cultural property.
The Embassy emphasized that this effort is part of a broader, ongoing process of cooperation with U.S. authorities and prominent academic and cultural institutions—including the Metropolitan Museum of Art—to retrieve additional Iraqi antiquities that were smuggled out of the country in past decades. The return of these artifacts is seen as a contribution to safeguarding Iraq’s historical memory and a reflection of both Iraqi and global pride in this unique human heritage.
The Embassy remains committed to advancing this vital mission, guided by the belief that the protection of cultural heritage is a shared national and international responsibility.