In a rare scene, Christmas display erected in gift shop in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH — In a rare scene, a gift shop in the Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh, erected a display of Christmas trees and decorative lights in different colors alongside a Santa Claus costume.

Saudi Arabia prohibits any non-Islamic religious rites from being practiced within the country.

For decades, people have been secretly buying Christmas decorations, and Christians have been celebrating the holiday behind closed doors, but the situation for religious minorities in Saudi Arabia appears to be slowly changing.