Saddam’s palace to host 4700 reclaimed stolen antiquities, converted to museum

(IraqiNews.com) On Thursday, Babil Provincial Council announced the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ approval to restore Saddam’s palace in the ancient city of Babylon and convert it into a ‘museum.’

A member of Commission of Tourism and Antiquities in the provincial council, Riad Aday, said in an interview for IraqiNews.com “The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities agreed to rehabilitate Saddam’s palace in the ancient city of Babylon and convert it into a museum of Antiquities.”

Aday added that “The ministry will supply the museum with 4,700 reclaimed stolen antiquities which were recently returned from the United Nations and European countries” explaining that “the relics dating back to Babylon, which will be exhibited in the museum after the completion of rehabilitation.”

Iraqi antiquities and heritage sites came under attack and vandalism after the control of ISIS on large parts of the provinces of Nineveh, Salahuddin, Diyala and Anbar, which blew up dozens of mosques, churches and shrines.