How delightful.
Via Mediaite:
The Istanbul University branch of the Anatolia Youth Association, a Turkish Muslim group, has allegedly released an illustration of a Muslim youth member punching Santa Claus in the face, part of the group’s organized protest of Christmas.
The group claims that Christmas is a Christian (and ultimately pagan-rooted) practice and its symbols have no place in the neighborhood. The AYA offshoot seemed especially upset with Santa, as the character is based on Saint Nicholas, who was from Demre—which is now part of Turkey—and thus appears often as a Turkish figure in promotional literature. The same group reportedly stabbed a life-sized Santa dummy two years ago.