Baghdad municipality denies installing Christmas tree, removes unauthorized display

BAGHDAD, December 27 — The Baghdad Municipality issued a statement on Tuesday denying its teams had installed a holiday tree in the city adorned with a hexagram star.

The municipality clarified in the statement that the tree in question belonged to a restaurant on the Kadhimiya Corniche and that the owner had been issued a warning.

Municipal authorities further confirmed that teams removed the star, which resembles the Star of David on the Israeli flag, and that the restaurant owner had installed the tree without the knowledge of local authorities.