ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Top Kurdish leaders on Wednesday offered Christmas greetings to Christians in the Kurdistan Region and across the world, reiterating their commitment to fostering religious diversity and a culture of coexistence in the Region.

With only a few days remaining until the start of 2026, Christians in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, along with other communities, are celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ on Thursday, with the occasion seeing large-scale celebrations that serve as a testament to the Region's religious diversity and tolerance.

On Christmas Eve, President Masoud Barzani extended congratulations to all "Christian brothers and sisters" in Kurdistan, Iraq, and around the world, wishing them happiness, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarters.

He emphasized “the deepening of the culture of coexistence and brotherhood among all religious and national components of Kurdistan, and I hope that our Christian brothers and sisters will always celebrate their holidays and occasions in peace and tranquility,” Barzani said.

Barzani said Christians are an integral part of Kurdistan’s past, present, and future, reaffirming the Region’s commitment to coexistence, tolerance, and mutual acceptance.

He assured that Kurdistan will, as always, remain “a peaceful nest and a shelter gathering all components.”

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also extended his warmest Christmas greetings, saying the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) “reaffirms our unwavering commitment to protecting and advancing the values of peaceful coexistence, brotherhood, and diversity among the components of the Kurdistan Region,” according to a statement.

“May your holiday be blessed and may you always live in joy and health,” he said.

The Kurdistan Region hosts diverse ethnic and religious communities that have maintained a long-standing tradition of harmony, even amid the broader region’s conflicts and instability.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also highlighted the integral role of Christians in the region, saying they “form an indigenous community that has been integral to Kurdistan’s past, present, and future,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. 

The president reaffirmed the region’s commitment to coexistence, noting, “We remain committed to ensuring that the Kurdistan Region continues to serve as a safe refuge and welcoming home for every community.” 

Iraq has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Syriac, an ancient dialect of Aramaic believed to have been the language spoken by Jesus, is still used as a liturgical language by the Chaldean Catholic Church. 

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, also a Kurd, continued in a similar vein to the Barzani trio, praising Christians' contributions to the nation’s history and culture, and wishing peace, harmony, and stability for Iraq and the world, he said in a post on X.

According to the European Centre for Law and Justice, Iraq’s Christian population has declined from 1.5 million in 2003 to merely 150,000 as of 2024, with many fleeing due to sectarian violence and attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Many Christians sought refuge from ISIS attacks in the Kurdistan Region, while hundreds of thousands have fled the country due to years of conflict.