The world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, including Christians in the Middle East, where–despite persecution or threats–they celebrated the birthday of their Savior.
Iran’s Constitution provides protection for most religion minorities, but Christians claim President Hassan Rouhani has made it increasingly difficult to openly run Christian churches. However, Christians in Iran still observed Christ’s birth.
#Christmas shopping in #Iran's capital city #Tehran.#MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/BSmmYwCA6k
— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas from the Armenian quarter in Tehran, Iran. See more at https://t.co/qcfuoia4w5 #MyTreedom pic.twitter.com/V7HbQtACR1
— Lisa Daftari (@LisaDaftari) December 25, 2015
My Christmas tree!
Iranian Christians wish the Iranian Resistance a Merry Christmas! #Iran @Maryam_Rajavi #PMOI pic.twitter.com/tttUYrFHnO— Donya Jam (@FreeeIran) December 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/cduhaime/status/679182353265262594
Christians in Pakistan also face constant persecution. Recently, a gang of Muslim men raped a Christian woman. No one responded to her screams, and human rights activists believe they will not face punishment. The aggression towards their religion did not stop Christians from honoring Christ, however.
Christmas in #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/S8GJqjHFWM
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) December 25, 2015
Christmas eve at Saint Anthony's Church #Lahore #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/qGKZB2IUTm
— Mobeen Ansari (@Mobeen_Ansari) December 25, 2015
#Christmas celebrations at a #church in #Karachi #Pakistan #MerryChristmas #XMas pic.twitter.com/M0NoaIJIK3
— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) December 24, 2015
Preparations for celebrating the festivities of Christmas in #Pakistan https://t.co/u6IRubQfcw pic.twitter.com/HA860cfTiS
v @dawn_com— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 24, 2015
Saudi Arabia is one of the strictest Islamic nations in the world. Christians must worship in their private homes and cannot practice their faith in the open. But these Christians did not allow rules to interfere with Christmas.
Merry Christmas from #SaudiArabia! pic.twitter.com/ETDHbC6x7n
— PopCultureMiddleEast (@nadine_compton) December 25, 2015
Iraqi muslims celebrate Christmas with their christians counter parts,despite calls by saudi scholars banning it pic.twitter.com/s9f39l8vNW
— Steven nabil (@thestevennabil) December 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/najhamadeh/status/680016738176622593
Saudi Arabia: Christmas in full spirit! And some Hanukkah too! Because why not?! #MyTreedom pic.twitter.com/vihoCUovZT
— Lisa Daftari (@LisaDaftari) December 23, 2015
Iraq and Syria are close to losing their Christian population, mainly due to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL). The remaining Christians still glorified Christ on His birthday.
#Syria NOT #Saudi Arabia: Celebrating #Christmas at a kindergarten in the city of #Safita, #Tartous Province pic.twitter.com/gJKKkraI8A
— Ahmad Al-Issa (@ahmadalissa) December 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/IraqiSuryani1/status/680520127457193985
🎅 🎄 Happy Meowy Christmas 🎅 🎄
This is "Bella" she asked me to pass you all the best wishes from Latakia, Syria pic.twitter.com/EYXZgYwkiY
— Spettro™ (@Spettrox) December 25, 2015
Despite terrorist rebel shelling, Christians in Aleppo celebrated Christmas. pic: st Gerges church Sliemanieh #Syria pic.twitter.com/RvTUhFVfXw
— Edward Dark (@edwardedark) December 25, 2015
Christmas atmosphere in the streets #Damascus, #Syria, today. pic.twitter.com/z775TN2sPT
— Lina Arabi (@LinaArabii) December 23, 2015
Christmas mass at 'Our Lady of Salvation' #church in #Baghdad, #Iraq, Photos by AFP and @AhmadMousaQ pic.twitter.com/CgyZjKW2Kq
v @seyyedreza— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 25, 2015
Shia led Hashed Al-Sha'abi (PMU) members attend a Christmas mass in Baghdad with Iraqi Christians #Iraq pic.twitter.com/5vhGQKShFu
— 🇶Iraq Live Update (@IraqLiveUpdate) December 25, 2015
#Christmas mass in the mountains of #Kurdistan #Iraq. #merrychristmas pic.twitter.com/ySvHL85RGr
— Sebastian Meyer (@sebphoto) December 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/Moosa__IRQ/status/680150786920300544
Christmas Letter from the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, IRAQ – https://t.co/jj1Doxscz3 pic.twitter.com/Ujxs3aIK5i
— Dominican Order (@Dominican_Order) December 23, 2015
Christians in other Middle East countries spread Christmas well wishes, sharing pictures on social media, as well.
Ho, Ho, Ho Merry #Christmas form everyone at Magnolia Bakery in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/pweVo0x7Bs
— Magnolia Bakery Qatar (@magnoliaQTR) December 25, 2015
@OfficialBHAFC @BHAFC_ @RenePaulT Merry Christmas from down town Doha Qatar! #BHAFC #ChristmasJumperDay pic.twitter.com/XJBmnJfw5N
— Marcus (@marcud99) December 25, 2015
Christmas in Qatar! 🇶🇶🇶🇶 pic.twitter.com/6jBrsYYRpz
— کاشف (@Kaashif_Gooner) December 24, 2015
#Christmas in #MiddleEast #Beirut & #Bethlehem
A great wish of #Peace pic.twitter.com/jgvYLF8VS0— Federico Di Leo (@Fe_DiLeo) December 25, 2015
Christmas on the beach!! #HappyHolidays #sunshine #oman pic.twitter.com/qFn4CB1ajB
— Ally Ahmed (@AaliyaSmiles) December 25, 2015
#Christmas marked with fervour in #UAE https://t.co/lRt9tuBBCf pic.twitter.com/bcWPir8UNO
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas from Faulkerson family @aldenrichards02 @R_FAULKERSoN #ctto pic.twitter.com/1A7hjlc0IV
— ALDUB_NOGROUP UAE (@aldub_uae) December 24, 2015
Merry Christmas from Lebanon😍🎄🎅🏽 @LebaneseProblem pic.twitter.com/ia5OnTHpCW
— Maya Khalil 🇵🇸 (@mayoushkhalil) December 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/roqchams/status/680137593158299648
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