3 Iraqi cities cancel Christmas festivities

[sabra]

Source: Newsday/AP

KIRKUK, Iraq - (AP) — Iraqi Christians on Wednesday called off Christmas festivities in three cities across the country as al-Qaida insurgents threatened more attacks on a beleaguered community still terrified from a bloody siege on a Baghdad church.

Church officials in the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul along with the southern city of Basra said they will not put up Christmas decorations, have canceled evening Mass and urged worshippers to refrain from decorating their homes. Even an appearance by Santa Claus has been called off.

"Nobody can ignore the threats of al-Qaida against Iraqi Christians," said Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako in Kirkuk. "We cannot find a single source of joy that makes us celebrate. The situation of the Christians is bleak."

Christians across Iraq have been living in fear since a Baghdad church attack in October that left 68 people dead. Days later insurgents targeted Christian homes and neighborhoods across the capital with a series of bombs.

An al-Qaida front group that claimed responsibility for the church siege vowed at the time to carry out a reign of terror against Christians.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/world/3-iraqi-cities-cancel-christmas-festivities-1.2556891?qr=1

[Make7]

1. There really is a War On Christmas? ( n/t )

[randr]

2. so how is that freedomthingy workin out fer ya george?

[saigon68]

3. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[Uncle Joe]

4. And this persecution against Christians in Iraq was brought about as a direct result

of Bush's invasion.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[bongbong]

5. Will we hear about this on Fox "news" ...

as part of their "war on xmas" theme?

Other questions that will have the same answer:

Do teabaggers have higher IQs than Koko The Gorilla?
Do repigs think independently?
Is Rush drug-free?
Is Glenn Beck NOT stoned out of his gourd 24x7 ?