Santa hats and Christmas celebrations banned in Brunei
Tuesday, 23 Dec, 2015
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There will be no Christmas cheer on public display in Brunei this year.
The oil-rich state, which borders Malaysian Borneo, has banned residents from celebrating Christmas publically, with the threat of up to five years in prison for offenders.
The Scrooge-like measures extend to even wearing a Santa hat which could be considered a crime under laws to ‘promote the Muslim faith.’
About 20% of the population are non-Muslims who are still permitted to celebrate the holidays normally but only within their own communities and any planned celebrations outside the home must get the approval of authorities.
Muslims found lighting candles, putting up Christmas trees, singing carols or wearing Santa Claus outfits could face a hefty fine or jail time.
The strict measures were first introduced last Christmas as the country brought in a stricter system of Sharia law aimed at preserving Muslim beliefs.
"These enforcement measures are intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the beliefs of the Muslim community," said a statement by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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