Rafed Ryad Ben Zami is rather discreet. He devotes his days to the cathedral of Saint-Joseph and Saint-Thérèse in the Karada district of Baghdad. Throughout the year, he organizes the social and cultural life of his Catholic community there, but as Christmas approaches, he puts on his red costume to bring together children of all religions.
From our correspondent in Baghdad,
” Usually I come to church and do my service, but I don’t interact much with people. », smiles shyly Rafed Ryad Ben Zami justifying his restraint. Sitting in the corridor leading to the prayer chapel of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph and Saint Theresa in Baghdad, he speaks softly, makes short sentences when it comes to talking about him, but changes completely when he discusses his secret identity. “ I’m excited when I put on my Santa costume, we jump around, we dance, we really party he laughs.
But it is in city clothes that he shows up that day. At 28, this discreet Baghdadi lives with his parents and his brother. A practicing Catholic, a lay worker, he teaches the Bible to the young people of the community, watches over the nuns of the adjacent convent and helps the Dominican brothers to administer the parish. His life revolves entirely around this church. “ My goal is just to serve others, because that’s what we learn from the Bible. I don’t want to become a priest “, he specifies, before outbidding: “ I intend to get married one day. In 2015, he felt he had an important mission when he agreed to take on the role of Santa Claus.
A tradition born of war
At the time, the Islamic State organization controlled a large part of northern Iraq and in particular the province of Nineveh, where Qaraqosh, the largest Christian city in the country, is located. Non-Muslim minorities have few choices: convert, flee or die. ” We have welcomed so many displaced people into our churchrecalls Rafed. We just wanted to make them happy, considering the terrible difficulties they had to face. This is how Santa Claus appeared in our church, for children and their families. »
Others had played the character before, but from there it becomes a real tradition, claimed by members of the community. Every year, he puts on his boots, his red outfit, his hat and especially his big white beard; a new costume, every year, because during the holidays, ” as there are many children who keep jumping on me, they tear it up. “. He distributes gifts to them and tells his young audience the story of Saint Nicolas, the origin of the legend of Santa Claus. According to Christian beliefs, the man, having become a saint, deposited, under cover of the night, presents to families in need.
According to him, this story carries a message of hope and joy in his country. ” Everything is difficult here, including daily life, the various tensions in the streets, and with our government. “The latest official statistics published at the beginning of the year by the Ministry of Planning estimated the poverty rate in the country at 25%, and this percentage reaches 38% for children.” In Iraq, there are not many moments of happiness, so we look for occasions, joyful events “, he insists to explain the reasons that lead him to consider a long career as Santa Claus.
A symbol of unity
If he seems to live sheltered, out of time, in this warm complex surrounding the church, Rafed Ryad Ben Zami lives and suffers, in reality like any Iraqi, the torments that shake his country. In 2019, “ many of my childhood friends died during demonstrations [qui ont commencé en octobre 2019, Ndlr] but since we can’t cope with these tragic events, we try to forget and live our lives as much as possible “. Putting on his Santa Claus costume allows him to ignore, for a moment, the difficulties of everyday life and the dramas that mark his life.
Since the end of the war against the Islamic State group, he believes all the more in the importance of keeping “Baba Noël”, as he is called in Arabic, alive. ” It can be said that he has become a symbol of unity he says. ” All my friends are different religions and all celebrate this day. They find this very important. More and more Muslims are indeed joining the celebrations since 2017. Analyze as an influence of Western consumerism or social networks, by some; others attribute this phenomenon to the desire to send a message of solidarity to the Christian minority, persecuted by the Islamic State group, and in decline. Estimated at 1.4 million people in 1987, it now only has 200,000 to 250,000 faithful in the country.
In 2020, December 25 officially became a public holiday in Iraq. Fir trees and garlands come out of the neighborhoods sheltering Christians, and many red Santa Clauses walk the streets. ” Outside Iraq, this may seem surprising, but it is because of stereotypes. We live together therefore we influence each other and Jesus is universal [il est cité à plusieurs reprises dans le Coran, Ndlr] », analyzes Rafed.
His only regret today is that the children are beginning to recognize him under his red outfit. ” I try to tell them it’s not me, but they don’t believe me anymore. Never mind, he will continue as long as he can.
