Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a committee to investigate claims against one of its staff members that she "stole a towel" from a hotel in Amman earlier this month.
The incident has attracted widespread attention in Iraq after news outlets and social media users claimed that Zainab Akla al-Saadi, a counsellor at the Foreign Ministry, was accused of taking towels from her hotel room at the Fairmont Amman in Jordan.
According to reports, hotel staff in Amman allegedly stopped al-Saadi at checkout after a security alarm went off on two of her bags. She refused to let staff inspect her bags, citing diplomatic immunity, and left after a brief argument.
Furthermore, Iraq's embassy in Amman allegedly filed a report to the foreign ministry, which was apparently leaked publicly.
In the report, whose authenticity The New Arab cannot confirm, the embassy claims that the Fairmont Amman Hotel accused counsellor al-Saadi of taking some towels and small electrical items (a hairdryer and an iron) from her hotel room. The report described the incident and noted that "the security alarm went off during the counsellor's departure, revealing missing items from the hotel room". The embassy said her conduct "damaged the reputation of the mission and its staff" and called for an official inquiry."
Al-Saadi strongly denied the accusation, telling Shafaq News: "After the incident and the social media circulation accusing me of stealing towels from a hotel in Amman, I submitted a statement to the Foreign Ministry, requesting a formal investigation."
"The ministry has already formed a committee to look into the case," she added, urging them to visit Amman for a detailed on-site inquiry.
The diplomat further argued that the reports were intended to harm the Foreign Ministry's reputation following its recent diplomatic achievements under Minister Fuad Hussein, particularly in regional diplomacy and mediation. She further claimed that the timing of these accusations was part of a broader campaign to undermine Iraq's diplomatic progress, and that she was seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Fuad Hussein, "to explain many important matters".
The New Arab contacted the Fairmont Amman Hotel for comment, but staff declined to discuss the case.
On 19 October, the ministry announced that it had formed a specialised investigative committee to examine the details of the case involving one of its employees in Amman.
Additionally, the ministry expressed regret over the leak of internal documents and official correspondence from one of Iraq's embassies abroad, stating that it had begun taking formal steps "to determine the circumstances of the leak and hold accountable any individuals found responsible" and to "take appropriate legal action once the inquiry is completed".
Meanwhile, al-Saadi's tribe, the al-Sawaed, held a gathering in her support and demanded government intervention. Tribal leader Sheikh Mohammed Blasim told Shafaq News: "Unfortunately, from time to time, Iraqis are targeted by media campaigns orchestrated by foreign parties. Our daughter, counsellor Zainab al-Saadi, represents not just our tribe but Iraq—a country with history and civilisation."
He said the tribe held a protest "to demand that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani intervene and that the Foreign Ministry conduct a transparent and urgent investigation into the false accusations". He warned that "if the government does not respond and listen to counsellor Zainab, our tribe will take a stance".
The ministry vowed to release the investigation's results once complete. It reaffirmed its commitment to integrity, discipline, responsibility, and the preservation of the image of Iraqi diplomacy at home and abroad.