PUK supports Christians as an indigenous community in Iraq

Reports 04:12 PM - 2022-12-27

Iraqi President, First Lady of Iraq and the officials of PUK visited the churches in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq

The President and other officials of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) wished the Christians a merry Christmas and visited the churches in Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The messages of congratulations:

The PUK's President, Bafel Jalal Talabani, wishes all of his Christian brothers and sisters a great Christmas holiday.

"Unity and coexistence have a long history in the Kurdistan Region, and Christians, as an indigenous community of our country, have played an important and influential role in deepening the spirit of tolerance and reconciliation. That is why we celebrate this holiday with our Christian brothers and sisters, and we all hopefully move toward a brighter future," said President Bafel Jalal Talabani.

The PUK Political Bureau wished a Merry Christmas to all the Christians in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The Politburo said, "Christians are an indigenous and inseparable part of the history of our nation and a key partner in the political and social movement in Kurdish society. On this occasion, we reiterate the need to uphold cultural and peaceful coexistence. As always, we consider it an important principle and we are committed to protecting the rights of our Christian brothers and sisters and will not come short in doing so."

On Christmas Day, Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, sent greetings to all Christians around the world and in Iraq.

"I congratulate all Christians in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the world on the birth of Jesus Christ. Kurdistan is proud to be a beautiful example of brotherhood and peaceful coexistence throughout history," said Qubad Talabani.

"Religious events are an important opportunity to continue and strengthen brotherhood and the spirit of peaceful coexistence among all communities in Kurdistan and Iraq," he added.

Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, the President of the Republic of Iraq, wished Christians around the world and Iraq a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

"On Christmas Eve, the birth of Christ, the messenger of love and peace, we extend our warmest congratulations to all Christian brothers in the world, especially to Christians in Iraq and Christians everywhere, wishing them and their families a merry Christmas filled with happiness, love, and peace," wrote President Rashid in a tweet.

Additionally, he wished everyone a happy new year in his tweet.

PUK officials visit the churches in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq

In order to congratulate the Christians and highlight the value of coexistence in the Kurdistan Region, a senior delegation visited various churches in Sulaymaniyah and Erbil provinces.

On December 25, a PUK delegation led by Saadi Ahmad Pira, a PUK Politburo member, paid a visit to the Mar Yousef Church in Ankawa, Erbil, and expressed their congratulations and continued support for the Christians there.

The same day, Salar Sarhad, a PUK Leadership Council member and the head of the Kurdistan Relations Board, delivered the message of President Bafel Jalal Talabani and Political Bureau to the Christians in Sulaymaniyah's Mary Yousef and Coptic churches.

The message emphasized that the PUK's current strategy is to uphold and defend the rights of minorities and strengthen the culture of peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, carrying on President Mam Jalal's sage policy.

To express their congratulations to the Christians in the city of Mosul, another PUK delegation led by Aras Mohammed Agha, a member of the Leadership Council, visited the churches there.

The delegation visited al-Bashara Church in the center of Mosul, Dar al-Kahna Church in the Hamdaniyah district, Mar Korkeis Church in the Bashiqa district, and several other churches in the al-Qush district of Mosul.

On December 23rd, Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, the first lady of Iraq, visited the Mar Yousef church in Baghdad and was welcomed by Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean and Catholic Churches worldwide, as well as Iraq.

"Christians have always had a particular place in our hearts," the First Lady of Iraq stated while giving gifts to youngsters in the church. She also said, "One of the wonderful things about our country is the coexistence of various ethnicities, faiths, beliefs, and groups."

For his part, Cardinal Louis Sako thanked the First Lady of Iraq for her ongoing support of Christians.

The Iraqi First Lady visited the village of Harmota, which is primarily populated by Christians and is located east of Erbil in Koya town, on December 21. She paid a visit to the church in the village and pledged her support. She also took a tour of their village to discover the wants and needs of the locals.

For New Year's Eve, Sulaymaniyah hosts spectacular festivals

In the same context, the greatest New Year's Eve celebration in Sulaymaniyah will be held by inSlemani, a platform for planning festivals, events, and activities in Sulaymaniyah.

The celebration, which is the first undertaking of inSlemani, aims to ring in the New Year while bringing happiness and hope to the city's residents. The festival is cost-free.

The streets of Sulaymaniyah are all decorated with vibrant lights in preparation for the festival, which will feature musical performances, a zone for business owners to market their goods, a game zone (street games): ball, lottery, circus, strength tests, fireworks, etc., as well as kid-friendly activities like face painting.



Prepared by Besha Jawhar
PUKMEDIA