Somalian Ministry Bans Christmas Celebrations

Ghana Web reports that yesterday in Somlia top officials of the Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs held a news conference to announce that Chrismas celebrations would be banned in Somalia. Sheikh Ali Dhere, Director of Religious Matters at the Ministry told the news conference:

We alert fellow Muslims in Somalia that some festivities to mark Christian Days will take place around the world in this week.  It is prohibited to celebrate those days in this country.

Director General of the Ministry, Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow Aden, added that copies of the directive had been delivered to hotels and meeting places in Mogadishu. Officials said nothing about whether the ban applies to non-Muslim foreign workers and residents. This is the first time since 1991 that such a ban has been issued.