Tajikistan declares total war on Christmas (and New Year's)

[Syt]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/tajikistan-bans-christmas-and-new-year

Tajikistan bans Christmas and new year celebrations

Trees, gifts, fireworks and charity outlawed in schools and universities as government tightens restrictions

Tajikistan has tightened restrictions on festive season celebrations, banning Christmas trees and gift-giving in schools.

This year's measures are the toughest yet implemented by the country, which has been toning down Christmas and new year celebrations for some time – banning Father Frost, Russia's version of Santa Claus, from television screens in 2013.

A decree by the education ministry prohibits "the use of fireworks, festive meals, gift-giving and raising money" over new year as well as "the installation of a Christmas tree either living (felled wood) or artificial" in schools and universities.

While other former Soviet states have set up large Christmas trees on the main squares of major cities, a tree will only appear briefly before new year in the capital, Dushanbe. It is expected to be removed early in 2016.

The December-January holiday season is contested in Tajikistan, a majority-Muslim but secular republic, where the population is divided over the benefits of Soviet and Russian influences.

On New Year's Eve in 2011-2012, a man dressed as Father Frost was stabbed to death by unknown assailants outside the home of relatives in Dushanbe.

The man's family claimed the attack had religious motives, but police denied this and said the three attackers were drunk.

Other holidays perceived as alien to Tajikistan's culture have come under pressure in recent years. In 2013 and 2014, fancy dress zombies and vampires were reportedly detained by police as the government opposed any Halloween celebrations.

The country also applies strict regulations to occasions such as funerals and weddings and fined one man around $600 for marking his birthday with friends in an Irish-themed pub in Dushanbe earlier this year.

[Eddie Teach]

The country also applies strict regulations to occasions such as funerals and weddings and fined one man around $600 for marking his birthday with friends in an Irish-themed pub in Dushanbe earlier this year.

Why not just shut down the pub if you're gonna do that?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Apparently Brunei cancelled Christmas too. With up to 5 years of prison if you celebrate anyway.

[Martinus]

Apparently Brunei cancelled Christmas too. With up to 5 years of prison if you celebrate anyway.

But they are our allies! And have investments in a lot of hotels and companies in the West! So, let's boycott Starbucks instead. Or complain about islamophobia. Depending on your political affiliation.

[Valmy]

I am just glad my culture will no longer be appropriated.

[Duque de Bragança]

Somalia joins the war on Christmas! Easier than conquering the Shebab I guess.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35167726

Somalia's government has banned the celebration of Christmas, warning that such Christian festivities could threaten the nation's Muslim faith.
"Those celebrations are not in any way related to Islam," an official at the religious affairs ministry said.
Security agencies have been directed to stay alert to stop any gatherings.
Foreigners are free to mark the Christian holiday in their own homes, but hotels and other public places have been prohibited from marking the day.

"Having Muslims celebrate Christmas in Somalia is not the right thing, such things are akin to the abandonment," local media quote Mohamed Kheyrow, a top official at Somalia's justice and religious affairs ministry, as saying.
Correspondents say as the country recovers from years of civil war, a growing number of Somalis who grew up in the diaspora are returning home, some of them bringing Western customs with them.
Christmas is not widely celebrated in Somalia, which officially adopted Sharia in 2009, but the odd event was held - especially as an excuse to hold a party.
Mogadishu's mayor, Yusuf Hussein Jimale, told the BBC that such gatherings might also be a target for the Islamist al-Shabab group that has targeted hotels in the city in the past.
Celebrations will be allowed at UN compounds and bases for African Union peacekeepers, who are in the country to back the government's fight against the al-Qaeda-linked militants.

[Solmyr]

There's a government in Somalia?

[Martinus]

There's a government in Somalia?

Good that they've got their priorities right at least.

[Norgy]

where the population is divided over the benefits of Soviet and Russian influences

Well, who isn't.

[Admiral Yi]

There's a government in Somalia?

I believe there's a government of sorts that controls Mog and a few other places, thanks to Ethiopia.

And of course there's an unrecognized government in Puntland as well.

[Martinus]

where the population is divided over the benefits of Soviet and Russian influences

Well, who isn't.

[11B4V]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/23/tajikistan-bans-christmas-and-new-year

Tajikistan bans Christmas and new year celebrations

Good, that's a start. Religion is a stain on humanity.

[Eddie Teach]

Good, that's a start. Religion is a stain on humanity.

Then how is empowering one religion over others "a start"?

[11B4V]

Good, that's a start. Religion is a stain on humanity.

Then how is empowering one religion over others "a start"?

Baby steps.

[Razgovory]

Good, that's a start. Religion is a stain on humanity.

Then how is empowering one religion over others "a start"?

It doesn't say they are.