Mogadishu: Stating that the country’s Muslim faith would be under threat, Somalia, the Muslim-majority country has imposed ban on Christmas and New Year celebration. This comes close on the heels of Southeast Asian sultanate of Brunei’s announcement of banning Christmas celebration earlier this month with the threat of five years in jail.
Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow, director general of Somalia’s religious affairs ministry has been reported in media saying that there should be no activity at all,and that security forces had been ordered to break up any such festivities.
“All events related to Christmas and New Year celebrations are contrary to Islamic culture, which could damage the faith of the Muslim community,” he said.
Somalia has shown this kind of intolerance even in the past. It may be recalled that last year, the armed group launched a Christmas Day attack on the African Union’s heavily fortified headquarters in the capital Mogadishu, killing three AU soldiers and a civilian.
Further, Somalia issued a similar ban in 2013, follows the Islamic calendar that does not recognise January 1 as the beginning of the year.After Brunei, Somalia bans Christmas, New Year celebrations
Mogadishu: Stating that the country’s Muslim faith would be under threat, Somalia, the Muslim-majority country has imposed ban on Christmas and New Year celebration. This comes close on the heels of Southeast Asian sultanate of Brunei’s announcement of banning Christmas celebration earlier this month with the threat of five years in jail.
Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow, director general of Somalia’s religious affairs ministry has been reported in media saying that there should be no activity at all,and that security forces had been ordered to break up any such festivities.
“All events related to Christmas and New Year celebrations are contrary to Islamic culture, which could damage the faith of the Muslim community,” he said.
Somalia has shown this kind of intolerance even in the past. It may be recalled that last year, the armed group launched a Christmas Day attack on the African Union’s heavily fortified headquarters in the capital Mogadishu, killing three AU soldiers and a civilian.
Further, Somalia issued a similar ban in 2013, follows the Islamic calendar that does not recognise January 1 as the beginning of the year.