Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- The day after Christmas was a tough one for Santa in his ancestral homeland of Turkey. 

A Muslim youth group held a demonstration Thursday in Istanbul, blasting the "jolly old elf" of legend and lore for contributing to moral decay and urging residents to turn against him. 

"Traditions such as new year celebrations, Christmas tree decorations, and Santa Claus leaving presents are leading to degeneration of our culture and leading to identity crises in our society. It tears our youth from their own culture and familiarizes them with the culture of the West leading them to embrace those values," the Anatolia Youth Association said in a statement. 

The group used an inflatable plastic Santa as a prop -- littering the ground below it with beer cans, a syringe and a cross to illustrate the dangers of inviting Santa into Turkish homes. 

They also distributed an image of a man delivering a brutal left hook to Santa's bearded cheek. 

Three years ago, the same group stabbed a blow-up Santa. 

Such sentiments are not widespread in Turkey. 

Many secular Muslims in Turkey decorate their homes with Christmas trees and Santas -- known in Turkey as "Noel Baba," or Father Christmas. They exchange gifts not on Christmas, but rather New Year's Day. 

Despite Thursday's unpleasantness, Turkey and ol' Claus go way back -- all the way to 4th Century. That's when, as religious tradition has it, the Christian St. Nicholas secretly gifted money and other items to residents around his home in what is now the southern Turkish city of Demre, becoming the model for the modern Santa Claus. 
What custom is controversial in Turkey?
Who doesn't like the custom?
How long has Santa been associated with this country?
Who is Santa patterned after?
What religion is he?
What did he do?
Where?
Where is that?
Does all of Turkey agree with the demonstrators?
What other religion celebrate the tradition?
Are they religious?
How do they celebrate?
Do they exchange presents on Christmas?
Do they some other time?
Is Santa known by anything else?
What did the demonstrators do to show their displeasure?
What did this signify?
What else did they do?
What did they do three years ago?
Where was this demonstration?
Santa
The day after Christmas was a tough one for Santa in his ancestral homeland of Turkey. 

A Muslim youth group
A Muslim youth group held a demonstration Thursday in Istanbul, blasting the "jolly old elf" of legend
Since the 4th Century.
Despite Thursday's unpleasantness, Turkey and ol' Claus go way back -- all the way to 4th Century.
St. Nicholas
 the Christian St. Nicholas secretly gifted money and other items to residents around his home in what is now the southern Turkish city of Demre, becoming the model for the modern Santa Claus.
Christian
the Christian St. Nicholas
Gave money and other items away
the Christian St. Nicholas secretly gifted money and other items to residents
Demre
the Christian St. Nicholas secretly gifted money and other items to residents around his home in what is now the southern Turkish city of Demre,
Southern Turkey
the southern Turkish city of Demre
No
Such sentiments are not widespread in Turkey. 
Muslims
Many secular Muslims in Turkey decorate their homes with Christmas trees and Santas
Secular
Many secular Muslims 
Decorate with Christmas trees and Santas
Many secular Muslims in Turkey decorate their homes with Christmas trees and Santas
Do they some other time?
They exchange gifts not on Christmas
on New Year's Day.
They exchange gifts not on Christmas, but rather New Year's Day. 
"Noel Baba," or Father Christmas
known in Turkey as "Noel Baba," or Father Christmas. 
Surrounded a plastic Santa with beer cans, a syringe and a cross
The group used an inflatable plastic Santa as a prop -- littering the ground below it with beer cans, a syringe and a cross t
the dangers that would invade Turkish homes.
The group used an inflatable plastic Santa as a prop -- littering the ground below it with beer cans, a syringe and a cross to illustrate the dangers of inviting Santa into Turkish homes. 

Handed out an image of a man hitting Santa.
They also distributed an image of a man delivering a brutal left hook to Santa's bearded cheek. 

Stabbed a blow-up Santa.
Three years ago, the same group stabbed a blow-up Santa. 
Istanbul
A Muslim youth group held a demonstration Thursday in Istanbul, 