- 2. Brunei
Brunei banned public celebrations of Christmas and imposed fines and jail terms for those caught celebrating the festival in 2014, an edict that was reiterated in 2015 by religious leaders writing in local newspaper, the Brunei Times.
“THESE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES ARE … INTENDED TO CONTROL THE ACT OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS EXCESSIVELY AND OPENLY, WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE AQIDAH [BELIEFS] OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY,” THEY SAID.
It specifically banned the wearing of Christmas costumes such as Santa hats, the lighting of candles, the signing of religious songs and putting up decorations such as Christmas trees. The Sultan of Brunei, a billionaire who owns hotels across the world, introduced a strict interpretation of Sharia law on the territory last two years.
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