The Grinch Mullah who stole Christmas.
(Mohabat News) — Last week you could sense the Christmas season in several streets in Tehran. Many shops had placed a decorated Christmas tree where it could easily capture the attention of passersby. But it seems that this trend has upset the pro-government media.
According to Iranian Christian News Agency, Mohabat News, Serat-News website, which is backed by security authorities and plain-clothes forces (mostly members of the Basij militia), commented on this matter saying, “It’s not proper for Tehran as the capital of a country with a Muslim majority to display a Christmas tree in every corner of the city”.
It added, “One of the main symbols of Christianity, the majority religion of the world, is Christmas which is known by a colorfully decorated tree. What’s the point of putting a Christmas tree in every well-known shopping center in a country where Islam is in the majority?”
This comment is made while the Islamic Republic of Iran, which calls Tehran “Om-al-ghera-e-Eslam” (meaning the main Islamic city), shows no tolerance towards any religion other that Shi’ite Islam. Serat-News website continued, “No doubt, Armenians who live in Iran feel loved, accepted and honored minorities among other communities in Iran. We share the same happiness and sadness. Therefore, Iranian Muslims according to their religious and national teachings cherish the beginning of the Christian year as a symbol for the great prophet of Christianity and his religion. But at the same time, some symbols are recognized as symbols for Christian communities all around the world and are considered offensive by others, whether majority or minority communities. The symbols for Christians are the Cross and the Christmas tree just as Kuffieh (a special fabric that Muslims use) is for Muslims.