Somalia’s Christmas Crisis
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- Posted On 26-12-2015, 11:00AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 26, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Somalia’s Federal Government issued and later on made partial rescinding in order banning Non-Muslims and what Somali officials described some ‘indecent Diaspora members’ from marking Christmas and perhaps new year eve.
Religious Affairs Ministry Director Sheikh Mohamed Kheyrow told state-run station, Radio Mogadishu that no celebrations for Christmas can be held in the country, given almost all Somalis are Muslims.
“We warn against celebrating the birthday of Prophet Jesus Christ, since the eve is just for Christians,” Sheikh Kheyrow stressed.
Mogadishu is a hub for diplomatic missions including United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), African Union, AMISOM and close to a dozen European embassies.
The news went viral on western media and similar bans by Muslim majority countries such as Brunei and Tajikistan came to light.
Differences widened after Mogadishu Mayor Yusuf Hussein Jim’alle quashed total ban, saying the demonization of Christmas should come into effect bar UN and AU headquarters.
Somalia’s Al Shabaab group has been wreaking terrorism and such events might have provoked vulnerability to deadly rampages, largely in volatile Mogadishu.
GAROWE ONLINE
