UNESCO visits ancient Iraqi city of Samarra

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The director of the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH), Laith Majid Hussein, discussed mechanisms to limit encroachments on archaeological and heritage sites in the ancient city of Samarra with a delegation from the UNESCO.

Hussein explained that a meeting with the UNESCO delegation was held in the governor’s office in the city of Samarra, where they discussed important issues related to the ancient city of Samarra, the encroachments that occurred in the ancient city, and the inclusion of the ancient city in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The meeting was attended by the Director of the Department of Investigation and Excavations, Ali Obaid Shalgham, the Deputy Governor of Salah Al-Din, the mayor of Samarra, and other Iraqi officials.

The meeting addressed the mechanisms to stop the encroachments in accordance with Antiquities Law No. 55 of 2002.

SBAH director, the UNESCO delegation and officials in Salah Al-Din governorate had a field trip in the city of Samarra to view the encroachments of archaeological sites.

The UNESCO delegation also viewed the maintenance work in Samarra city after it was briefed about the circumstances the city went through during the period ISIS terrorists occupied the city and the military operations carried out to liberate it.

The UNESCO delegation was briefed about the completion of the procedures related to rehabilitating Al-Ashiq (the Lover) Palace, in addition to other projects related to Al-Askari Shrine (the Al-Askari Mosque), which is a Shia Muslim mosque and mausoleum in the Iraqi city of Samarra, such as a guest house, a cultural center, and a historical panorama, that are positively impacting the historical and heritage tourism of the city.