Celebrate Christmas And Go To Jail- Brunei President

The super-rich ruler of Brunei has told residents of his country that if they plan on celebrating Christmas, they could face up to five years in jail as Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has banned the public celebration of Christmas.

Any Muslims caught celebrating Christmas, and non-Muslims who are discovered organising celebrations, could face the lengthy prison sentence. The non-Muslims are allowed to celebrate the holiday within their own communities but they must not disclose their plans to the nation's Muslims which make up 65 per cent of the population. Around 20 per cent of Brunei's residents are non-Muslim, including substantial Buddhist and Christian communities.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said this in a statement “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. Some may think that it is a frivolous matter and should not be brought up as an issue but as Muslims…we must keep it [following other religions' celebrations] away as it could affect our Islamic faith”.

The small Borneo nation prohibits propagating religion other than Islam to a Muslim, and breaking this is a violation of the penal code. Other banned activities include putting up Christmas trees, singing religious songs and sending Christmas greetings, reported the Borneo Bulletin. However, some Burnei residents are risking jail time by still celebrating Christmas and uploading pictures to social media as part of a #MyTreedom campaign that celebrates religious freedom. 

The nation embraced a harsh new penal code in April 2014, led by 68-year-old Bolkiah. The change means people can face conviction by Islamic courts and fines or jail terms for a range of offences such as pregnancy outside marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers and propagating other religions. At the time, he said “Today I place my faith in and am grateful to Allah the almighty to announce that tomorrow, Thursday, May 1 2014, will see the enforcement of Sharia law phase one, to be followed by the other phases”. The second phase of the law came into effect in May this year covering theft and alcohol consumption by Muslims, which would be punishable by whipping and amputation. The death penalty, including death by stoning, will be introduced in the final phase a year later for offences such as adultery, sodomy and insulting the Koran or the Prophet Muhammad.