Oil-rich Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas for fear of Muslims being led astray, its officials announced today.
In
a country that last year controversially instituted tough Islamic sharia
penalties - such as the severing of limbs - a ban relating to all Christmas
references was issued following the holiday on December 25.
The
tough restriction was put in place after children and adults were seen wearing
clothes 'that resemble Santa Claus' - thereby promoting a religion other than
Islam.
In
April, Brunei was condemned after announcing the introduction of a penal code
that will eventually include penalties such as the severing of limbs and death
by stoning.
The
tiny state on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and
relies on oil and gas exports for its prosperity.
Around
20 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim, including substantial
Buddhist and Christian communities.
A
spokesman declined to comment directly on the Christmas ban, but referred to a
December 27 statement in which the religious affairs ministry said the act of
publicly marking non-Islamic rituals or festivities 'can be seen as
propagation of religions other than Islam'.
It
noted in particular: 'For example, in conjunction with Christmas celebrations,
Muslim children, teenagers and adults can be seen wearing hats or clothes that
resemble Santa Claus.
'Believers
of other religions that live under the rule of an Islamic country - according
to Islam - may practice their religion or celebrate their religious festivities
among their community, with the condition that the celebrations are not
disclosed or displayed publicly to Muslims,' the statement said.
'Muslims
should be careful not to follow celebrations such as these that are not in any
way related to Islam... and could unknowingly damage the faith of Muslims.'
The
statement also said that businesses that publicly displayed Christmas
decorations were asked to take them down and had given their 'full
cooperation'.
The
latest move will likely attract more international criticism after a harsh new
penal code was announced in April by Brunei's 68-year-old Sultan Hassanal
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.
Most
of the laws will also apply to non-Muslims.
That
raises concern among Western workers in the oil sector and the tens of
thousands of ethnic Chinese Bruneians and 30,000 mostly Roman Catholic Filipino
migrant workers living in Brunei.
The
United Nations Commission on Human Rights denounced the new system for applying
the death penalty to a wide range of offences.
In
April, celebrities, including U.S. television personality Ellen DeGeneres and
British actor Stephen Fry, announced they would be boycotting the hotel chain
owned by the sultan on the grounds that the new laws criminalised
homosexuality.
The
Dorchester Collection of hotels is owned by the Sultan of Brunei.
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