The Ministry of Tourism and Archaeology is to celebrate a decision by U.N.’s cultural organization, UNESCO, to inscribe Samarra’s ancient sites on the list World Heritage in danger.

Jassem Jaafar, the minister, said his ministry was planning a major festival to mark UNESCO’s decision. “The festival has to match the significance of Samarra as an ancient and holy Iraqi city,” he said.

Samarra is holy to both Muslim Sunnis and Shiites as it contains remains of the Great Mosque and its Spiral Minaret as well as the tombs of several Shiite Imams.