Somalia Bans Christmas and New Year Festivities; They Could Damage Faith of Muslim Community

 Fearing celebrations in Somalia during the Christmas season could provoke serious Muslim attacks,
 the country's Muslim-majority government has decided there will be no Christmas or New Year celebrations, the USA Today website reports today (December 24, 2015).

Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow, director general of the religious affairs ministry, said that Christmas and New Year celebrations "could damage the faith of the Muslim community."

Security units have been given the order to break up any festivities related to the holidays.

"Christmas will not be celebrated in Somalia for two reasons: all Somalis are Muslims and there is no Christian community here. The other reason is for security," Abdifatah Halane, spokesman for Mogadishu mayor, said.