IRAQ: Antiquities Directorate in Nohadra (Duhok) sues Lexus over damage to ancient Assyrian aqueduct

NOHADRA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage in Nohadra (Duhok), Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), has filed a lawsuit against the Japanese automobile manufacturer Lexus, seeking the harshest penalties for damage caused to an archaeological site dating back to the Assyrian Empire. The lawsuit follows a recent Lexus advertisement featuring one of its cars driving across the historic Jerwan Aqueduct.

Ancient Engineering Masterpiece at Risk

Constructed in 690 BCE during the reign of King Sennacherib, the Jerwan Aqueduct is a marvel of ancient engineering. Built to transport water for irrigation, the aqueduct comprises over two million stones, each weighing between 250 and 500 kilograms. Standing nine meters tall and 20 meters wide, the structure reflects the advanced hydraulic systems developed by the Assyrians.

Discovered in 1850 by the French ambassador to Baghdad, the Jerwan Aqueduct is celebrated as one of the most significant architectural achievements of the Assyrian civilization, showcasing their expertise in engineering and science.

Legal Action and Preservation Efforts

The Nohadra Antiquities Authority accused Lexus of damaging the site, particularly the earthen barrier meant to prevent vehicles from crossing the aqueduct. The lawsuit has been filed with the public prosecutor’s office in Nohadra and referred to the court in Sheikhan.

Officials are demanding accountability from Lexus and emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement of heritage protection laws in Iraq. The incident has reignited concerns about the preservation of historical sites, with archaeologists and cultural heritage advocates calling for stronger measures to protect the region’s rich cultural legacy.

Good!

The photos are still on their Instagram. pic.twitter.com/ESOBX1PAxy

— Ramsen ♔ ‎ܪܡܣܢ (@Ramsen_) February 7, 2025

Comments from Syriac Heritage and Museum Director

The Directorate’s Syriac Heritage and Museum Director Bernard Youssef confirmed that, “the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts has moved against those concerned in this matter and has made several contacts with the Region’s General Directorate of Antiquities, Duhok’s Antiquities Directorate, the Institute for the Conservation of Iraqi Heritage and Antiquities located in Erbil, and a number of government and parliamentary officials.”

“Indeed, the Duhok Antiquities Directorate has thankfully moved to perform its legal duty by filing a legal complaint with the Public Prosecutor and also in the Sheikhan District Court,” Youssef added. “In our belief in working together to protect our ancestors’ heritage and history, which is considered a cultural, human and national legacy, and through the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, the legal aspects were investigated in order to file an official complaint with the Public Prosecutor.”

“After receiving legal advice from the Legal Department of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Culture Ministry, an official letter was sent containing a legal complaint against the aggressors on the village of Jerwana’s antiquities according to the relevant antiquities protection laws,” he continued.

Youssef concluded his statement by saying that, “our complaint to the Public Prosecutor in Duhok came due to the encroachment on the heritage of an indigenous people in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and because we are the party concerned with preserving our people’s heritage, and the Region’s General Directorate of Antiquities, through the Duhok Antiquities Directorate, has filed another legal complaint due to the company’s encroachment on archaeological sites and photographing them, which is a violation of the laws in force.”