http://defence.pk/threads/islamic-nation-of-somalia-follows-sultan-of-bruneis-example-and-bans-christmas-celebrations.414829/
Islamic nation of Somalia follows Sultan of Brunei's example and bans
Christmas celebrations
Discussion in 'Middle East & Africa' started by mike2000 is back,
Thursday at 8:13 PM.
Islamic nation of Somalia follows Sultan of Brunei's example and bans
Christmas celebrations because 'they are contrary to our culture'
Security forces primed to break-up festivities in the capital Mogadishu
Feared Christian events may provoke attacks by Al Shabaab terror group
Sultan of Brunei has threatened to jail Muslims who celebrate Christmas
By SIMON TOMLINSON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:19, 23 December 2015 | UPDATED: 09:23, 23 December 2015
President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has banned Christmas
celebrations because they 'contrary to Islamic culture'
Somalia has banned Christmas and New Year celebrations because they
are 'contrary to Islamic culture' – days after a similar move by the
Sultan of Brunei.
Director General of Somalia's Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sheikh
Mohamed Khayrow, warned that security forces would break-up any
gatherings held in the capital Mogadishu.
He said: 'All events related to Christmas and New Year celebrations
are contrary to Islamic culture, which could damage aqidah (faith) of
the Muslim community.
'There should be no activity at all.'
Sheikh Nur Barud Gurhan, deputy chairman of the Supreme Religious
Council of Somalia, said Christian events might provoke further
attacks by the Muslim terror group Al Shabaab, it was reported by
Ugandan daily New Vision.
He said: 'We Islamic Scholars are warning against the celebration of
such events which are not relevant to the principles of our religion.
Such events give also Al Shabaab to carry out attacks.'
In the latest attack, on Monday, passengers on board a bus bravely
defied Al-Shabaab militants who ordered them to sacrifice the
Christians on board during a deadly standoff in Kenya.
When the 10 Al-Shabaab militants stormed the bus in the country's
north, they demanded Muslim passengers separate themselves from the
Christians on board.
But the passengers refused - even giving some of their fellow
travellers Islamic articles of clothing to wear so they could not be
distinguished.
A year ago, Al-Shabaab gunmen - who operate as Al Qaeda's affiliates
in east Africa - stormed a Nairobi-bound bus in the same area and
killed 28 non-Muslim passengers execution-style.
The move comes days after the Sultan of Brunei's decision to jail
Muslims who celebrate the festivities.
The super-rich ruler, Hassanal Bolkiah, told residents of his country
that if they plan on celebrating December 25, they could face up to
five years in jail.
There are fears Christian events might provoke further attacks by the
Muslim terror group Al Shabaab (above)
Banned Christmas: Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of
Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray. Pictured, Sultan of
Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
There may be no Christmas in Brunei - but there is at the nation's
leader's Beverly Hills Hotel. The Sultan owns the Dorchester
Collection of hotels including the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel
Bel Air.
While non-Muslims are allowed to celebrate the holiday within their
own communities, they must not disclose their plans to the nation's
Muslims – which make up 65 per cent of the 420,000-strong population.
Around 20 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim, including
substantial Buddhist and Christian communities.
'These enforcement measures are…intended to control the act of
celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the
aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community,' said the Ministry of
Religious Affairs in a statement.
The small Borneo nation prohibits propagating religion other than
Islam to a Muslim, and breaking this is a violation of the penal code.
Other banned activities include putting up Christmas trees, singing
religious songs and sending Christmas greetings, reported the Borneo
Bulletin.
'Some may think that it is a frivolous matter and should not be
brought up as an issue,' the imams are quoted as saying in the
Bulletin.
'But as Muslims…we must keep it [following other religions'
celebrations] away as it could affect our Islamic faith.'
The Los Angeles property, owned by the Sultan's Dorchester Collection,
is covered in Christmas decorations - which would land a Brunei
resident in jail
The Dorchester Hotel in London is similarly bedecked for the Christmas season
Thursday at 8:14 PM#2
mike2000 is backSENIOR MEMBER
Joined:Apr 12, 2015Messages:2,933Ratings:+9 / 3,383 / -2
Harsh: The tiny state of Brunei on the island of Borneo is ruled by
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and relies on oil and gas exports for its
prosperity
Religion: Around 35 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim,
including substantial Buddhist and Christian communities. Pictured
here is the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Clock in Brunei
Some Burnei residents, however, are risking jail time by still
celebrating Christmas and uploading pictures to social media as part
of a #MyTreedom campaign that celebrates religious freedom.
Imams have told followers to abide by a government edict banning
celebrations that could lead Muslims astray and damage their faith
The tiny state on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah and relies on oil and gas exports for its prosperity.
The nation embraced a harsh new penal code in April 2014, led by
68-year-old Bolkiah.
At the time, he said: 'Today I place my faith in and am grateful to
Allah the almighty to announce that tomorrow,Thursday, May 1 2014,
will see the enforcement of Sharia law phase one, to be followed by
the other phases.'
The change means people can face conviction by Islamic courts and
fines or jail terms for a range of offences such as pregnancy outside
marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers and propagating other
religions.
A second phase of the law comes into effect in May this year covering
theft and alcohol consumption by Muslims, which would be punishable by
whipping and amputation.
The death penalty, including death by stoning, will be introduced in
the final phase a year later for offences such as adultery, sodomy and
insulting the Koran or the Prophet Muhammad.
Received on Sun Dec 27 2015 - 21:48:46 EST