Muslims Protest ‘Creeping Christmas’ and ‘Charlatan Santa’ in Istanbul

A protester holds a placard reading ‘Muslims do not celebrate Christmas’ (Twitter/@FuryBlazing)

Muslims held a protest against “creeping Christmas” and the “Charlatan Santa” in Istanbul’s Maltepe Square this week.

‘Fatih Gençliği’nden Noel protestosu: Müslüman kutlamaz

https://t.co/RMwvbes6hE pic.twitter.com/srKhGDE7Kz

— Diken (@DikenComTr) December 20, 2015

The Muslims were angry that a tree was decorated in the square.
Middle East Eye reported:

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Crowd gathers to protest against growing influence of the ‘charlatan’ Santa, presents and Christmas trees in latest demonstrations in Istanbul.

Despite the approach of Christmas and New Year, some Turks are definitely not in a festive mood.

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Protestors have gathered in Istanbul’s Maltepe Square holding up placards that read “Musluman noel kutlamaz” (Muslims do not celebrate Christmas) in protest at a Christmas tree in the square.

According to local news sources, activists from the Fatih Generation Youth Education Association were angry that their “sensitivies” as Muslims were not being recognised.

“That charlatan called Santa Claus is the father of Christians!” said one protester named Bulent Gurpinar. “We’re a nation of the Prophet Muhammad.”

In 2013 protesters stabbed inflatable Santa at a protest in Istanbul.

esp mad as Santa’s origins in Turkey “@muratcekic: scary. Santa stabbed #Istanbul protest new year celebrations pic.twitter.com/EBl625zGDi”

— Steven Lindsay (@StevenJLindsay) December 26, 2013