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Christians in Basra decided not to celebrate Christmas explicitly as it coincides this year with a sad memorial for Shiite who commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Al Hussain and his brother Al Abbas in Karbala. Bishop Imad Al Banna, the head of Chaldeans Bishops in Basra called on all Christian brethren not to display their joy, not to publicly celebrate the feast of the Nativity or entertaining guests at home to show our respect vis-à-vis Shiites, on the occasion of Muharram, said the statement issued Sunday. The Shiites, according to the lunar calendar, commemorate this year the mourning of Ashura (the 10th of the month of Muharram) the next weekend when Christmas falls on Friday. Meanwhile, bishop of Baghdad Shlimoune Wardouni said that this concerned only Basra.
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