Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani sent Christmas greetings to Christians in Kurdistan, in Iraq and around the world, and wished them peace and prosperity in the new year.

In a message earlier today, the President also called for tolerance and peaceful co-existence between the various ethnic and religious communities in the country.

“At a time when Iraq and the region are threatened by terrorist and extremist groups, it is our priority to protect the peaceful co-existence and tolerance between religious and ethnic communities.”

“Christians have come under attack from ISIS terrorists and their towns and villages have been destroyed in the past few years, forcing many of them to flee to Kurdistan. The peshmerga forces have been able to inflicted heavy defeats on ISIS terrorists. Their final defeat is near and displaced Christians will soon be able to return to their homes,” added the President.