Saddam Hussein, the ex-President of Iraq who was responsible for killing a reported 250,000-plus people during his reign, was once awarded the key of Detroit for donating to a local school.

According to CBS, Hussein’s ties to the Motor City started in 1979 after Rev. Jacob Yasso of Chaldean Sacred Heart, a local school, congratulated the soon-to-be-dictator on his presidential win. Hussein thanked Yasso for his support by donating $250,000 to the school.

A year later, in 1980, the city awarded Hussein the key to the city. Yasso made a special trip to Baghdad to present the ruler with his award. Hussein ended up giving Yasso another $200,000 for more improvements to the school.

This was all possible because back in the 1980s the U.S. and the Hussein regime were allies against Iran. Tensions in the region threatened to throttle U.S. oil providers along the Persian Gulf. The U.S. responded to these threats by arming Hussein’s regime (the irony).

The key to the city award is usually given to members of the community who have provided a service to the city’s residents in some way. Besides Santa Claus annually receiving the key to Detroit during the city’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the special prize has been given to Elmo, James Earl Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Benjamin Carter, three sports stars and Saddam Hussein, the only award-winner who went on to be charged with genocide.