PERTH – A suggestion by a PC police suggesting that Christmas is offending to non-Christians in Australia has been rejected by the local Muslim community, who stressed that they mark the occasion as the birthday of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).

“I wish many people merry Christmas, just as they wish me a happy Ramadan,’’ Dr Jamal Rifi, a Muslim community leader, told The Daily Telegraph.

“Those shopping centers who say they don’t have images of Jesus or other figures because they don’t want to upset Muslims is crap.”

Lebanese-born Layla Ghazle said she had celebrated Christmas in her home village since childhood.

The hijabi Muslim woman, with her husband Ali and three-year-old daughter Farah, posed with Santa at Bankstown Central shopping center.

Ghazle, a Bass Hill teacher, said Christmas was “a time to respect other cultures and beliefs and for families to come together”.

“We believe Jesus was the prophet, so it’s not unusual for Muslims to celebrate the tradition,” she said.

Christmas is the main festival on the Christian calendar. Its celebrations reach its peak at 12:00 PM on December 24 of every year.

Muslims believe in Jesus as one of the great Prophets of God and that he is the son of Mary but not the Son of God. He was conceived and born miraculously.

In the Noble Qur’an, Jesus is called “Isa”. He is also known as Al-Masih (the Christ) and Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary).