A Muslim businessman decided to do something quite stunning in honor of Iraqi Christians, erecting the tallest Christmas tree in the city of Baghdad — an effort he hopes will help ease the pains so many in Iraq have endured in recent years.
And it was no cheap feat, as Yassir Saad said his 85-foot-tall tree — which has a diameter of 33 feet — cost him a whopping $24,000; it’s currently standing in the center of a local amusement park, the Hindustan Times reported.
Iraqi businessman erects tallest Christmas tree in Baghdad for ‘Christian brothers’ | The National https://t.co/EQkXT0hgjM pic.twitter.com/t1EQQq67En
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Though he’s presumably not an observer of Christmas, Saad said he wanted to join in solidarity with the Christians “in their holiday celebrations,” while also “helping Iraqis forget their anguish, especially the war in Mosul.”
Locals see the tree as an inspirational show of unity, as Saba Ismael, a teacher who took students to see it, told the Associated Press she believes it sends a positive message.
“This tree represents love and peace,” Ismael said.”I wish all Iraqi Christians could return to Iraq and live normal and peaceful lives.”
It’s no secret that Iraq’s Christian community has been decimated in recent years, with extremists targeting Bible-believers and driving them out of their homes, specifically after the Islamic State started dominating areas of the region in 2014.
(H/T: Associated Press)
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