BAGHDAD: Baghdad’s vicious sectarian war has claimed another victim; a Christmas tradition that used to bond the city’s Christian community closer to their Muslim neighbours is dying.

Until this year, Muslim farmers from Baghdad’s outskirts would descend on Sadun Street in downtown Karrada to sell Christmas trees to the area’s large Christian community and exchange season’s greetings.

Prices were low and, for the remaining Christians in an increasingly dangerous district, it was as much an inter-religious social event as a market.

“They used to wish me Merry Christmas before selling me the tree I chose,” said mother-of-two Mary Hanna. “I miss them and their trees this year.” Reporters who visited Karrada in the build-up to Christmas found very few tree stalls, where once Sadun street would have been decked with green boughs.

Shops were still stocking a colourful array of artificial trees, baubles and party decorations, but the pre-Christmas street market ambiance was lost.

Baghdad’s large but dwindling Christian community has thus far not been a target for the rival Sunni and Shia death squads whose attacks have pushed Iraq to the brink of all-out sectarian war.But the blockade on Christmas trees is a worrying sign in what was once one of the Middle East's most cosmopolitan cities; a mix of ethnic Arabs and Kurds, of religious Sunnis, Shia, Christians and Jews.

To bring the Christmas trees to Karrada, the farmers would have to carry them through the backroads of Baghdad’s suburbs and brave a gauntlet of car bombs and illegal checkpoints manned by sectarian assassins.

“They are afraid to come as they would certainly be targeted by gunmen, who hate to see those offering trees to Christians,” said Sameer Yunan, a Christian. “They want division in our society.”Mother-of-three Ban Zaki said she would buy an artificial tree to celebrate Christmas, but regretted the passing of a tradition that would have seen her and her kids picking the best fir from the friendly tradesmen.

“We look forward to Christmas. When we bring the tree home, our kids know that Santa Claus is coming with presents. It won't be so much fun this year,” she sighed.

Christians have lived side-by-side with Muslims and other religious groups in Iraq for centuries as a respected part of society, sometimes achieving high office in government.—AFP