French Court Rejects Lawsuit Over Baghdad Embassy Property

•? ?A Paris administrative court ruled it is not competent to hear a lawsuit by descendants of Iraqi Jewish owners of a building used by France’s embassy in Baghdad.

•? ?The families are seeking over €21 million in unpaid rent and moral damages, saying France stopped paying them in 1974 and instead paid Iraqi authorities.

•? ?The court said the lease is not governed by French law, effectively directing the families to pursue the case in Baghdad.

•? ?Lawyers called the ruling “surreal,” saying France is occupying a building it does not own, and vowed to continue legal action.