Iraqi Interior ordered to close Saddam’s cemetery

The clan of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said that they have received a formal letter from the Iraqi ministry of interior,  demanding the closure of his burial site and the transfer of the late President's remains to another resting place. The chief of the Al-Bu-Nasser clan Hassan al-Nada said that a letter came to Salahuddin police from the office of the former under-secretary of the ministry of interior Adnan al-Asadi, requesting the closure of the cemetery and the transfer of the remains. He added that “the head of the provincial council and the governor of Salahuddin had intervened in this issue and are making efforts to settle it with the central government,” clarifying that the ministry is concerned about the large number of visitors to the cemetery. Nada clarified that: “There is an event hall near the cemetery that is frequently visited, but a small number of visitors also visit the cemetery. The ministry of interior thinks that all the event hall visitors also visit the cemetery,” adding that “the clan decided with the provincial council to close the hall.” He expressed his surprise, saying that the cemetery is like any other cemetery of a president or chief, and that the issue should not raise any fears. A source from the Salahuddin police said that on January 22, a special security force surrounded the cemetery and threatened to arrest anyone who attempted to visit the former President's grave. The first deputy of Salahuddin governor Ahmed Abdel-Gabbar said that the administration of the province has informed the police leadership to withdraw and leave the issue to the local government Abdel-Gabbar said that “the hall has  now been closed, but the transfer of the residue to another place was disregarded.” The clan of the former president said that it closed the cemetery to please the government. The government issued an official letter in 2009 banning any person or government institution from visiting the cemetery. Saddam Hussein was arrested by the USA forces back in 2003 and executed three years later on charges of crimes against humanity.