Source: Pakistan Christian Post
Brunei, December 22, 2015
The leaders of Brunei have initiated a rule that could bring lot of damage to those citizens who publicly celebrate the birth of Christ. According to leading media reports, the Sultan of Brunei has officially declared that people seen celebrating Christmas Day or wearing Santa Claus hats in public will be thrown in jail for five years. This rule has been implemented in the oil-rich nation so that the beliefs of the Muslim community will not be offended.
Non-Muslims in the tiny country of Brunei may celebrate Christmas but only within their communities. The citizens of Brunei are not even allowed to send season’s greetings to their near and dear ones. Celebrations are allowed only on the condition that it is not disclosed to Muslim members of the community.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement published in the Brunei Times, “These enforcement measures are intended to control celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could offend the beliefs of the Muslim community,” reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Borneo Bulletin quotes varopis Imams saying that Muslims lighting candles, putting up Christmas trees, singing carols, wearing Santa Claus outfits or doing anything related to Christmas is against the Islamic faith. Hassanal Bolkiah is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei.
