In 1979, Saddam Hussein donated quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) to Chaldean Sacred Heart Church in Detroit which was home to a over 1000 families of Middle Eastern descent. For this gesture, in 1980, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young allowed Rev. Jacob Yasso to present the key to the city of Detroit to Sadam Hussein. At the time, Saddam then asked Rev. Yasso, “I heard there was a debt on your church. How much is it?” After the inquiry, Saddam then donated another $200,000 to Chaldean Sacred Heart Church. Chaldean are a Catholic group who majorly lived in Iraq.
