Erbil Governor cancels Christmas and New Year celebrations in remembrance of tragedies

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) — In a somber decision reflecting the gravity of recent tragedies, the governor of Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), has opted to cancel Christmas and New Year celebrations in honor of the martyrs of the wedding hall fire tragedy that devastated the community of the Nineveh Plains town of Baghdede (Qaraqosh / Hamdaniya) and the Soran Complex fire.

The announcement came during a meeting addressing the arrangements for Christmas and New Year ceremonies, as detailed in a statement released by the governorate. Governor Omid Khushnau conveyed that, in light of the heartbreaking events in Baghdede and the Soran Complex, and out of deep respect for the lives lost and their grieving families, the governorate would not organize any official celebrations for the upcoming New Year.

Quoting Khushnau, the statement emphasized that while the governorate refrains from hosting official festivities, citizens and proprietors of celebration venues, hotels, and tourist spots are free to organize parties or celebrations as they see fit.

Further detailing the measures taken, the statement outlined the deployment of security forces, including police, civil defense, and health teams, across public spaces and areas frequented by citizens and tourists. The primary objective is to ensure the safety of lives and properties amid the absence of official celebrations.

This decision aligns with similar choices made by the Churches of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community, opting to limit Christmas and New Year celebrations to religious rituals in a shared expression of solemnity and remembrance.