While countries around the world are excited to celebrate Christmas, the oil-rich country Brunei has prohibited the public celebration of Christmas, even sending greetings and the wearing of Santa Claus hats are also not allowed. Those who will be caught organizing and celebrating, whether Muslims or non-Muslims could face a jail time of up to 5 years.
Non-Muslims, who make up 32% of the 420,000 population, are allowed to join the rest of the world and celebrate this joyous occasion provided they stay in their own communities and their celebrations are kept from the Muslims.
According to the Borneo Bulletin, Imams, which is equivalent to the Catholic Priests, has told their followers in the small Muslim land to obey a government order banning the celebrations that could guide Muslims to a different direction and possibly damage their faith. The Ministry of Religious Affairs explained in a statement that these measures are solely aimed towards controlling the act of celebrating Christmas too much and too openly which they consider a factor that may damage the aqidah (beliefs) of Muslims.
In the statement, it was mentioned that non-Muslims displaying their celebration of Christmas will be violating the penal code which does not allow introducing another religion other than Islam to a Muslim.
The Borneo Bulletin quotes imams saying in a sermon on Friday that Christmas traditions like, lighting a candle, putting up a Christmas tree, singing religious songs, among other things doesn't follow their religious faith. They added saying that some non-Muslims may think that this is not something to be taken seriously, but as Muslims they must keep on following their teachings, and stay away from other practices as it could affect their faith in Islam.
Before Christmas last year, officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs visited businesses and asked owners to remove Christmas decorations and to stop staff wearing Santa Claus hats and clothes.
