The Somali Government has banned Christmas and New year celebrations citing that the festivities go against the Islamic culture.
According to the Director General of the Religious Affairs ministry, the celebrations were contrary to the Muslim traditions and would only serve to damage the faith among members of the community.
Security forces in the country have been given strict orders to stop any celebrations as it was rendered illegal in the Muslim dominated state.
“We are warning against the celebration of such events which are not relevant to the principles of our religion,” Sheikh Nur Barud Gurhan, of the Supreme Religious Council of Somalia said.
Gurhan further warned that such festivities could even provoke attacks from the al-Shabaab militia group in the East African region.
Reports indicate that last year during Christmas, al-Shabaab attacked the Mogadishu airport where 12 people were killed.
Somalia is the second country to prohibit the celebrations in 2015, after Brunei made a similar announcement.
