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Iraqi Christians cancel Christmas celebrations in solidarity with protests

The head of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church announced on Tuesday that the community would not hold public celebrations of Christmas out of respect for those killed and wounded in recent anti-government protests.
The mass rallies rocking Iraq’s capital and south have been met with violence by security forces and armed groups, leaving nearly 430 dead and 20,000 wounded.
The protests have been concentrated in Shiite Muslim-majority areas, but on Tuesday, a large part of Iraq’s Christian community said it would take part in an act of solidarity.
“There will be no decorated Christmas trees in the churches or streets, no celebrations and no reception at the patriarchate,” announced the head of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic community, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako.
Iraq’s Christian minority has been ravaged by years of war, with just a third left out of the 1.5 million Christians living in the country before 2003.
Many are in Baghdad or the northern province of Nineveh.
Sako made the decision “out of respect for the dead and wounded among protesters and security forces, and in solidarity with the pains of their families.”
As the demonstrations enter their third month, other non-Shiite communities in Iraq have also expressed solidarity.
Sunni-majority Mosul has held funeral marches for those wounded further south and Salahaddin province announced three days of mourning for the fallen.
Hundreds of students also marched in multi-ethnic Kirkuk.
source: AFP
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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