Christmas in Erbil

There were fireworks this December in celebration of a renovated cathedral church built in Erbil ready for Christmas, despite the continued threat of so-called Islamic State.

As the doors of St Joseph's church are newly opened, Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil tells Hugh Sykes that this is a time for joy, even though the extremist militant group considers Christians "blasphemers and infidels".

(Photo: Altar boys and girls of St Joseph's, Erbil. Credit: Hugh Sykes)