PM Barzani stresses 'peaceful coexistence' for Christmas holiday

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday extended his “warmest congratulations” to the Christians in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and around the world on the “occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ,” according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

“On this occasion, we reiterate the Kurdistan Region's commitment to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and protect the rights of all communities,” Barzani added.

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating in Kurdistan, Iraq and the world. pic.twitter.com/B9z3NGMrdZ

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) December 24, 2023

Earlier on Dec. 18, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw on Monday announced that all Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in the province will be canceled this year, citing this year’s Hamdaniya and Soran fires, in which a large number of people were killed and injured. 

The announcement follows an earlier statement by Erbil’s Chaldean Patriarch Raphael Louis Sako, who announced that all activities in clubs and churches during Christmas and New Year's Eve would be canceled in protest against the removal of Patriarch Raphael Louis Sako from his role as patriarch in Baghdad, in addition to the fires cited by Khoshnaw.

However, it remains unclear as to the extent of the cancellations, as the province’s Christmas Festival has been ongoing since Dec. 13.

Read More: PHOTOS: Erbil hosting ‘Christmas Festival’

Following the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, thousands of Christians fled to the Kurdistan Region, where they sought sanctuary in the multi-ethnic and Christian-majority town whose population is estimated to be nearly 60,000 residents.

Religious leaders of the community on several occasions have praised the KRG’s efforts to protect Christians, whose numbers have been shrinking in Iraq since 2003 due to persecution and terrorism.

Editing by Dastan Muwaffaq