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Iraq Declares Christmas Official Holiday, Shiite Cleric Attends Mass
For the first time in history the government of Iraq has declared Christmas an official holiday. Several hundred thousand Christians live in Iraq, but many were forced to flee to the Kurdish north when violence was at its peak in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.
In a show of solidarity with Christians a senior Shiite cleric attended the Christmas Mass in a Baghdad chapel.
A senior Shiite cleric, Ammar al-Hakim attended the event, flanked by bodyguards, in a gesture of cooperation with Christians.
“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.
This is an extremely positive development in Iraq. This time last year Christian churches were burned and worshippers beheaded as Baghdad descended into an orgy of violence and bloodshed. Much to the chagrin of American left-wingers, the Iraq of today is a far different place. While much difficult work lies ahead, Iraq is continuing to move forward in a positive direction.
-Chris Jones
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