Christmas banned in Brunei, Somalia and Tajikistan
Brunei's citizens face jail for wearing 'clothes or hats that resemble Santa Claus'
Officials in Somalia, Tajikistan and Brunei have banned Christmas celebrations this year as part of a crackdown on Christian traditions in the majority-Muslim nations.
Residents of the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei face the harshest penalties, which include a five-year prison sentence for any Muslim caught celebrating Christmas, although Christians are allowed to mark the holiday unmolested.
The ban extends to "using religious symbols like crosses, lighting candles, putting up Christmas trees, singing religious songs [and] sending Christmas greetings", local press reported.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
People of Muslim faith in the south-east Asian nation have also been warned by the government that they face a mandatory prison sentence for wearing "clothes or hats that resemble Santa Claus".
The new rules come after the nation's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (above), pledged last year to start enforcing the sharia legal code.
Some local residents have taken to social media to vent their frustration, posting images of Christmas trees and decorations with the hashtag #MyTreedom.
In Africa, Somalia's ministry of religion director Sheikh Mohamed Kheyrow announced in a statement that the government is "against celebration of Christmas, which is only for Christians".
"The Christmas holiday and its drum beatings have nothing to do with Islam," Sheikh Kheyrow said in an announcement on national radio. Somalia has only a handful of non-Muslim residents, and The Guardian suggests that the edict may be directed at Somalis returning to the country from Europe and North America having picked up Western traditions.
Tajikistan has also continued its crackdown on festivities seen as alien to Tajik culture, including Halloween. This year, the bans have been extended to include Christmas trees, fireworks and any form of gift-giving in schools. Christmas has long been a touchy subject in the former Soviet country, which is majority Muslim but officially secular. In 2011, a man dressed as Father Frost – the Russian version of Santa Claus – was stabbed to death in the capital city, Dushanbe, reported Fox News.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published