ATP - Somalia
has banned Christmas and New Year celebrations because they are 'contrary to
Islamic culture' – days after a similar move by the Sultan of Brunei.
Director
General of Somalia's Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow,
warned that security forces would break-up any gatherings held in the capital
Mogadishu.
He
said: 'All events related to Christmas and New Year celebrations are contrary
to Islamic culture, which could damage aqidah (faith) of the Muslim community.
'There
should be no activity at all.'
Sheikh
Nur Barud Gurhan, deputy chairman of the Supreme Religious Council of Somalia,
said Christian events might provoke further attacks by the Muslim terror group
Al Shabaab, it was reported by Ugandan daily New Vision.
He
said: 'We Islamic Scholars are warning against the celebration of such events
which are not relevant to the principles of our religion. Such events give also
Al Shabaab to carry out attacks.'
In
the latest attack, on Monday, passengers on board a bus bravely defied
Al-Shabaab militants who ordered them to sacrifice the Christians on board
during a deadly standoff in Kenya.
When
the 10 Al-Shabaab militants stormed the bus in the country's north, they
demanded Muslim passengers separate themselves from the Christians on board.
But
the passengers refused - even giving some of their fellow travellers Islamic
articles of clothing to wear so they could not be distinguished.
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