Here are the five countries that currently ban the celebrations of Christmas
1. Somalia
Somalia is a country in East Africa that has been at war for over one decade. It has a population of over 15 million people. According to the Pew Research Centre, 99.8 percent of Somalia's population is Muslim and the majority of them belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. In 2015, Somalia’s government banned all forms of Christmas celebrations with security agencies mandated to arrest anyone or gathering celebrating the Christian festival. The BBC reported Mohammed Kheyro, a top official of Somalia’s Justice and Religious Affairs Ministry as saying, "having Muslims celebrate Christmas in Somalia is not the right thing, such things are akin to the abandonment."
2. Brunei
Brunei is officially known as the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, and located in the Island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The population of Brunei is about 500,000 and about 75 percent of them being Muslims. Islam is the official religion of Brunei, even though the country has a large population of Christian and Buddhist minorities.
In 2014, the Sultan of Brunei bans the celebrations of Christmas on the Island. The Independent, a UK newspaper, reported the incident thus: ‘’ Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has ruled the former British colony for nearly 50 years, introduced the ban on Christmas in 2014, the same year Brunei adopted a stricter penal code, based on Islamic sharia and including punishments such as stoning and amputation. The Christmas ban is justified under the new laws - the punishment for celebrating Christmas is a fine of $20,000 or up to five years in prison or both.’’
3. North Korea
North Korea is a reclusive country in East Asia with a population of about 25 million people. The country has been led by the family of its founder, Kim Il-sung since it was founded in 1945. North Korea is a socialist state and officially atheistic. According to Religious Intelligence, 64.3% of the population are irreligious, 16% practice Korean shamanism, 13.5% practice Chondoism, 4.5% are Buddhist, and 1.7% are Christian.
Although all forms of religious celebrations are banned in the hermit country since 1948, in 2017 the current leader of the country Kim Jong-un intensified the ban.
This is how epress.co.uk described it: ‘’The North Korean constitution technically does allow freedom of religion to all its citizens, but anyone found taking part in festive ceremonies risks being thrown in jail, or worse.
Last year, Kim Jong-un banned Christmas altogether, instead of demanding that all citizens should pay tribute to his grandmother on December 24 - her date of birth.This year he has upped the ante by also prohibiting any "gatherings that involve alcohol and singing."
4. Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the practice of any other religion aside to Islam is banned. So it is no surprise that the country which is led like a monarchy will not tolerate Christmas celebrations. According to a report in metro.co.uk, ‘’In 2015 the government re-iterated their anti-Christmas stance in state media newspaper Arab News when it came to light that government hospitals allowed non-Muslim employees to celebrate Christmas within its compound. ‘Sheikh Mohammed Al-Oraifi, a Saudi scholar, said Muslims are not allowed to greet non-Muslims on their religious occasions like Christmas,’ they wrote, and quoting the scholar directly: ‘If they celebrate the birth of God’s son and you greet them…it means you endorse their faith.’’
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5. Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia of about nine million people. About 96 percent of the population is Muslim who practices the Sunni variant of Islam. In 2015, the country banned the celebrations of Christmas. According to the UK Guardian, ‘’ a decree by the education ministry prohibits “the use of fireworks, festive meals, gift-giving and raising money” over New Year as well as “the installation of a Christmas tree either living (felled wood) or artificial” in schools and universities.’’
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