A columnist in a Qatari government newspaper argues that celebrating or even acknowledging Christian holidays such as Christmas constitutes a grave religious sin for Muslims.

An opinion article published in a Qatari state daily newspaper strongly condemns Muslims who participate in or acknowledge Christian holidays, particularly Christmas, arguing that such behavior constitutes a serious religious transgression.

The author, Ibtisam Aal Sa’d, recounts arriving at her workplace to find a decorated Christmas tree and colleagues exchanging “Merry Christmas” greetings. She describes feeling shocked and alarmed, stressing that what some consider harmless decoration is, in her view, a major violation of Islamic belief.