Christmas Is Now Official Holiday In Iraq

Iraqi Christians Quietly Celebrate, Applaud Government For Declaring Christmas An Official Holiday For The First Time

(AP)  Iraq's Christians, a small minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim country, quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time.

But security worries overshadowed the day for many, particularly in the north where thousands of Christians have fled to escape religious attacks.

Overall security in Iraq has improved markedly in the past year, but a fatal car bombing in Baghdad on Christmas morning was a gruesome reminder that serious problems remain.

The bombing outside a restaurant frequented by police killed four people and wounded 25 others in the Shiite neighborhood of Shula, said a police officer on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give information to news media. The U.S. military later announced that one person was killed and 21 were injured. There was no way to immediately reconcile the differing numbers.

Also Thursday, an oil official said attackers blew up a pipeline in the city of Kirkuk. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred Wednesday and pumping was expected to resume within three days.

In his homily on Thursday, Chaldean Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly praised the establishment of Christmas as an official holiday as a step toward easing tensions.

"I thank the government for giving chances to all to serve each other for the general benefit, and I thank it too for making this day an official holiday where we pray to God to make us trust each other as brothers," he said at the Christmas Mass before several dozen worshippers in the small chapel of a Baghdad monastery.

A senior Shiite cleric, Ammar al-Hakim, attended the Mass flanked by bodyguards in a gesture of cooperation with Christians.

"I thank the visitors here and ask them to share happiness and love with their brothers on Christmas. By this they will build a glorious Iraq," the cardinal said.

"We came here to bring a message of love, respect and gratitude to our Christian brothers and to share happiness with them as we have shared sadness with them during the cruel targeting they came under," al-Hakim said in an interview with al-Furat TV. "We will do our best for equality between people and a good life for all, whatever their religious, sectarian and ethnic background."

He is the son and heir-apparent of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq's biggest mainstream Shiite party.

Iraq's Christians, estimated to number only a few hundred thousand of the country's 26 million people, have often been the target of attacks by Islamic extremists in Iraq. Tens of thousands have fled; many of those who stayed were isolated in neighborhoods protected by barricades and checkpoints.

A coordinated bombing campaign in 2004 targeted churches in the Iraqi capital, and anti-Christian violence also flared in September 2007 after Pope Benedict XVI made comments perceived to be against Islam.

For Mariam Polis, who fled her home in Mosul a year ago after anti-Christian threats spread and two priests were killed, this Christmas was a day of bitterness.

"There's not enough money, no house, no stability to prepare for Christmas Eve," said the 55-year-old woman who now occupies a one-room clay house in the northern village of Ein Kawa. "It is better for us to die."

But for another woman who fled to Ein Kawa, there was a bit of cheer thanks to money sent from abroad by her brother.

"We got a bright Christmas tree - it is a symbol we love," Raeida Anwar Abid said.

In the city of Sulaimaniyah in Kurdistan, which is comparatively orderly, many Christians spent hours at a Christmas Eve Mass at the Mar Joseph church.

"Iraq is bleeding, and we have to heal the wounds with united hands," priest Dinha Toma said the service.

[samrt-2009]

Jesus wept.

[noloyalisti]

Are they going to join the Crusade to rid the earth of the infidels so the Christian Fascists can rule?

[bobbyzhao]

Iraq even recognizes Christmas as a holiday!! I think some people push them to do so,I think as one muslim country accepting this day as an offical day is ridiculous

[bobbyzhao]

and Iraq even recognizes Christmas as a holiday!! ??I think some people push them to do so,not many of Iraq people will accept this day as an official holiday!

[bobmarisol]

Two years ago the media loved giving us a daily tally on the number of dead American soldiers. Terrorists were running amuck in Iraq, and liberal politicians were swearing that we ''lost'' the war (Harry Reid). They said we should give up and just split Iraq into three countries (Joe Biden).

Today the terrorists have been destroyed, violence has dropped 80%, and Iraq even recognizes Christmas as a holiday!! Hallelujah and praise to God! Praise God for George Bush!!

[musethalia]

C''''mon guys its Christmas- Let up on the bile, bitterness, and politics, and just hope everyone in Iraq including Christian, Muslims, Jews, soldiers, and police can enjoy a day without violence.

Posted by mgeorge113

Hats off to you and that statement. Merry Christmas!

[runningralph]

I worry that by legitimizing Chritmas, the Iraqi is unintentionally setting up Christians as a target for the jihadists.

[jgunther7]

On Christmas Eve the three kings of the east who travelled from Tikriti, Samara and Basra in Iraq to Bethlehem and slipped through Roman coalition lines to present gifts to the newborn king. Saddam Hussein used to take pride in this fact. Iraq has a long history of respect for Christianity.

[dewbug2]

wardoglrs,you are an uneducated skata head....I had to read your stupid misuse of words four times before it made any grammatical sense....that would be the only kind of sense it made.....don''t you mean "through the use of a gun" or do you mean the United States "threw" a gun....like one would "throw" a rock or a baseball.....why the hell don''t you go back to school and pay attention this time before you display your ignorance in public....dipshit!No wonder there''s so much meaningless controversy on here....half the morons can''t read, write,punctuate, or speak the American language!!!

[boandco]

The occupation forces in Iraq are a disgrace to their faith.

[centerfall94]

"Christmas Is Now Official Holiday In Iraq"

Proselytization accomplished!

[wardoglrs]

USA bringing Love & joy to the world since 1913 threw a gun

[hermitdave]

No surprise considering the fact that the government is a puppet of born more than one time George the crusader. Would anyone please tell me what government official would go against a holiday celebrated by 150,000 armed troops with aircraft and rockets that occupy their country.

You notice no strong anti Americans are in the government of Iraq.

[mgeorge113]

C''mon guys its Christmas- Let up on the bile, bitterness, and politics, and just hope everyone in Iraq including Christian, Muslims, Jews, soldiers, and police can enjoy a day without violence.

[hetup-2009]

and how many people are dead, permanently injured, families missing fathers, mothers, children? and how much money went to the companies that support the occupation of Irag?

Christmas in Irag is sinful and I am sure Jesus would be really pissed about it

[rev_miesse]

-Iraq''s Christians, estimated to number only a few hundred thousand of the country''s 26 million people, have often been the target of attacks by Islamic extremists in Iraq. Tens of thousands have fled; many of those who stayed were isolated in neighborhoods protected by barricades and checkpoints.

Oh fear not, ye of little faith. Let us celebrate with great gladness. For George W. Bush has won the war on terror.

-quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time.

And all it cost was 4,000+ American dead and
$1,000,000,000,000. Thank ''ya Geezus-AH.

[tommygun083]

The Christians always enjoyed the freedom to worship Christianity under Saddam Hussein. Now that peace is returning to Iraq, maybe the Christian communities that were driven out by the US invasion can now return to their land.

[trustperson]

On the Christmas day, people who enjoy the freedom of worshipping your own religions around the world and specially in Iraq, should thank President Bush and the American soldiers, who have led the coalition and have liberated Iraq from a tyrant.

[walt1944-2009]

Iraq has declared that Christmas is a national holiday, the first time that a mostly Islamic country has recognized a Christian holiday.

Perhaps that is why Iran''s Ahmandinejad decided to read the New Testament and shock the world with a Christmas message that appeared to be more "Christian" than a Christmas message coming from a Christian country or the pulpit of a right-wing Bible-belting "pastor" would give!

Besides, Ahmadeinejad is looking forward to the day when the Americans soldiers (especially the crazy mercenaries of Blackwater!) leave so he can "annex" Iraq and make it part of Iran.

Then he might legalize Easter Sunday!!!

Thank you very much, "supposed" Great Emperor Bush II !!!!

SIG HEIL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN "SUPPOSED"!!!, BUSH!!!