U.S. returns Saddam Hussein’s precious chess board
An antique chess belonging to late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein returned to Iraq via the United States embassy in Baghdad.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The United States has returned to Iraq a stolen, antique chess board that belonged to late president Saddam Hussein, its embassy in Baghdad on Saturday.
“ A stolen Iraqi artifact was returned to the Government of Iraq! Yesterday the U.S. Embassy met with the Deputy Minister of Culture for Antiquities & Heritage Affairs Qais Rasheed to return an antique chess set, owned by Saddam Hussein, stolen in 2003 and recovered by the FBI,” the embassy’s statement read. “The U.S. is committed to helping return stolen Iraqi artifacts,” it added.
Numerous thefts of Iraqi antiquities, including belongings of the late leader, occurred following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Thefts and sabotage of archaeological sites continued with the emergence of the Islamic State militants in 2014.
Last Sunday, Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry said it had handed over 44 ancient coins to the Iraqi ambassadors in Cairo. It said they dated back to the era of kings Faisal I, Faisal II and Ghazi I of Iraq.