Ammar Al Saleh - Basrah
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The southern Iraqi city of Basra is preparing to receive Christmas celebrations after its local markets are filled with various goods and supplies to revive the occasion, which has lost its true joy and the Christian component of the city's life.
The presence of Christians in the cities of southern Iraq dates back to the middle of the second century AD, according to historical sources. Their presence was a leading role in the renaissance and balance of society, according to human rights activist Jawad al-Mariouche.
| Local markets are busy preparing for New Year's Day (Al Jazeera) |
Imbalance
"The Christians were an active member of the visual family, and they contributed to the renaissance of society, especially in the scientific life, as well as in the promotion of cultural and literary reality and artistic taste, where they find their touches in the visual street wherever you go."
The absence of this component represents a clear imbalance in the social life, and resulted in the loss of "beauty, elegance and elegance" in the visual society after the absence of the most beautiful in the face of the visual family as a result of the negative excretions and the piles of free ideas that have been established at the present time and contributed to migration, Mentionsed.
| Church of the Holy Heart of Syriac Catholics (the island) |
The number of Christians in Basra has declined dramatically since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the security chaos that has forced many of them to emigrate.
Although there are no accurate figures for the preparation of Christians in the city, it is reported that out of 2,500 Chaldean families, only 170 remained in Basra.
"The language of numbers in the presence of ingredients does not mean anything, especially since these components still exist and maintain their existence," said a member of the provincial council of Basra, Novak Erram Petersyan.
| The people of Basra are keen on the survival of the Christian component is authentic and stable in the city (Al Jazeera) |
Deferred Migration
"There is a tribal, religious and governmental concern for the presence and survival of the Christian component to remain an integral component of the city," he said.
"The reasons for emigration are almost invisible during this period, especially as the security situation stabilizes, prompting many Christian families to reconsider their migration or to abolish this idea," he said. "The psychological impact on these families is not Which requires that the government agencies address this negative impact that accompanied the individual Christian as a result of the situation he experienced.
| The Chaldean Diocese of Basra |
The province of Basra includes 16 churches of various Christian denominations, of which only seven churches practice their religious rituals normally, while the rest of the churches are closed for maintenance reasons, or because there are not enough followers to perform their liturgy.
Preparations and reassurance
Ammar Mati (a Christian) finds that the social life in Basra and the familiarity of its spectrum motivated him to return to his city after having to move with his family to the Kurdistan region five years ago.
| Preparations in the Church for Christmas |
"I am currently working in an electronics shop and I have not experienced harassment or threats, but at the same time I miss my brothers and relatives who have migrated to Europe and are not thinking about returning."
While Ammar continues his preparations to celebrate Christmas, which he sees as distinct this year from the years preceding it, with everyone ready to celebrate the occasion, the local markets are very active in displaying the various goods that people accept on Christmas, Santa Claus, as well as organizing concerts in the city to celebrate the occasion.