Region | Iraq
Arabs and Kurds wish Iraqi brethren in show of goodwill
In the northern and highly volatile Iraqi city of Kirkuk, sectarian rifts plague the Arabic, Turkish and Christian community on one side and Kurds on the other, but on the Christmas celebrations brought a widely noticeable change of attitudes.
- By Basil Adas, Correspondent
- Published: 23:36 December 25, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Shaikh Abdullah with President Abbas, Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, attend Christmas Mass in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Thursday.
Kirkuk: In the northern and highly volatile Iraqi city of Kirkuk, sectarian rifts plague the Arabic, Turkish and Christian community on one side and Kurds on the other, but on the Christmas celebrations brought a widely noticeable change of attitudes.
"Leaders from Muslim Arabs, Kurdish, and Turkish communities came to our church to join us for our Christmas celebrations," said Louis Sako, Archbishop of Kirkuk.
"This shows the unity and love between ordinary people, and demonstrated that politicians were behind the sectarian problems that has plagued the city of Kirkuk."
In some Kirkuk neighbourhoods, Muslims knocking on the doors of their Christian neighbours to wish them a merry Christmas.
Other Muslims even joined in the festivities by dressing up their children in new clothes, as if it was their own holiday.
"I live in the First of March neighbourhood, and I invited my Christian neighbours to my home for a big lunch feast. The violence between our people has no place in the hearts of ordinary people," said Umm Adnan, a 39-year-old Muslim woman.
Kirkuk is one of the remaining areas where Al Qaida presence is strong. As a result, streets were filled with high security details. Officials feared that large Christian gatherings would attract suicide bombers.
"All Muslims who came to the Church of Mar Afram to give their well wishes on Christmas were not searched, although the weather was cold and there were many coats which could hide explosives belts," a security guard said.
Many mosques in Kirkuk broadcast the daily call to prayer and afterwards congratulated Christians on their important holiday.
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