Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas in Baghdad Churches amid strict security measures

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Christians have celebrated the Birthday of Jesus Christ, taking place today, Sunday, in Baghdad Churches amidstrict security measures.Prayers took place in Virgin Mary Church in central Baghdad‘s Karrada district, attended by a large number of Christians, that were screened by TV Satellite Channels, amid strict security measures to protect Churches, especially after the wave of recent explosions that took place in several Baghdad areas, killing and wounding dozens of people.The usual Christmas and New Year celebrations have disappeared from Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, where Christians expressed solidarity with Muslims, whose the Shiite sad Muharram anniversary took place recently, along with the bloody explosions that took place last Thursday,killing and wounding dozens of innocent civilians.The Iraqi capital of Baghdad had witnessed last Thursday a series of explosions by booby-trapped cars and other explosive charges that left large numbers of victims.Iraqi Christians usually celebrate the Birthday of Jesus Christ, taking place on Dec.25th of each year, along with the New Year celebrations, where lots of non-Christians, especially young people, share in those celebrations, whilst large numbers of Iraqi cities witness on such occasions in streets and shops that decorate Christmas trees and Santa-Close.But Christmas and the New Year this year have taken place with the Muslim Muharram month, which is a sad occasion for Muslims, especially Shiites, who commemorate the anniversary of martyrdom of Imam Hussein Bin-Ali, Prophet Mohammed’s Grandson, who was killed, together with dozens of his relatives and supporters in the so-called Al-Taf Battle in the Muslim Hijri Year 61 at the dawnof Islam. 1463