The conservative Muslim country on the island of Borneo stated the punishment would apply to anyone found sending festive greetings – or wearing Santa hats.
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah appears to have enforced the ban in a bid to prevent the oil-rich country’s 420,000 Muslims, which make up about 65 percent of the population, from being exposed to “infidel” beliefs. Christians and others can celebrate Christmas, but must do so in private and have to first alert the authorities.
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“These enforcement measures are … meant to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the akidah of the Muslim community”.
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With this, all businesses offering Christmas decorations will have to close and stop any public functions celebrating Christmas.
The ban has encountered some resistance – the social media campaign #MyTreedom, which encourages Christians and other in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran to post images of themselves celebrating Christmas, includes several contributions from Brunei residents.
Imams also explained that though some may be of the opinion that these rules were “frivolous”, it was nonetheless necessary as partaking in Christmas celebrations had the potential to “affect” Islamic faith.
A government spokesman released as statement stating “Muslims should be careful not to follow celebrations such as these that are not in any way related to Islam, for it is feared that this could lead to tasyabbuh (imitation) and could unknowingly damage the aqidah (faith) of the Muslims”.
Last year, the sultan caused controversy by introducing Sharia criminal law into the country.
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For its Muslim residents, alcohol consumption as well as theft, pregnancy outside marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers, adultery and propagation of other religions (where they claim celebration of Christmas falls under) are punishable offences.
