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Brunei bans Christmas: Sultan warns those celebrating could face up to five years in jail Brunei bans Christmas: Sultan warns those celebrating could face up to five years in jail
(2 days later)
Anyone found illegally celebrating Christmas in Brunei could face up to five years in prison, according to a reported declaration by the Sultan of the tiny oil-rich state.Anyone found illegally celebrating Christmas in Brunei could face up to five years in prison, according to a reported declaration by the Sultan of the tiny oil-rich state.
Brunei introduced its ban on Christmas last year over fears that celebrating it "excessively and openly" could lead its Muslim population astray.Brunei introduced its ban on Christmas last year over fears that celebrating it "excessively and openly" could lead its Muslim population astray.
Christians and others can celebrate Christmas, but must do so in private and have to first alert the authorities.Christians and others can celebrate Christmas, but must do so in private and have to first alert the authorities.
Local Islamic religious leaders have promoted the ban, warning that adopting the trappings of Christmas is tantamount to imitation of another faith, prohibited in some interpretations of Islam.Local Islamic religious leaders have promoted the ban, warning that adopting the trappings of Christmas is tantamount to imitation of another faith, prohibited in some interpretations of Islam.
Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs have also reportedly visited local businesses to ensure they are not displaying Christmas decorations, including Santa hats and banners with Christmas greetings.Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs have also reportedly visited local businesses to ensure they are not displaying Christmas decorations, including Santa hats and banners with Christmas greetings.
“Cancelled in nick of time: discovered [Coworth Park] that I was booked into is part of the ‘Dorchester Collection’,” he tweeted in April, just before controversial laws making homosexuality punishable by stoning to death were passed by the hotel chain's owner, the Sultan of Brunei.
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"While I am sensitive to the potential impact that this issue may have on the wonderful staff at Le Meurice, I cannot in all good conscience stay there, nor can Vogue's editors," the US Vogue editor said as she declared hers and Conde Nast's boycott on the Dorchester Collection.
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"No @Virgin employee, nor our family, will stay at Dorchester Hotels until the Sultan abides by basic human rights," Sir Branson tweeted in May.
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Jay Leno joined protesters in a street march against the Sultan of Brunei and declared his boycott on the leader's international business exploits.
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"I won't be visiting the Hotel Bel-Air or the Beverly Hills Hotel until this is resolved," the chat show host tweeted, posting a link to a story about stoning homosexuals to death.
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Boycott fan Sharon Osbourne called the Sultan's anti-gay laws "the actions of a barbarian". She also recently denied ordering take away from the Beverly Hills Hotel.
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The influential French billionaire and chief executive of luxury fashion company Kering joined the campaign in April.
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The Beatles star eschewed staying in any of the Dorchester Collections residences over the Sultan of Brunei's human rights issues.
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The fashion designer, along with her father, was one of the first to boycott the Dorchester Collection Hotels.
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As was shoe designer Brian Atwood, who opposed Brunai's 'stone the gays' laws, passed in April.
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Another fashion designer, Peter Som, reiterated Atwood's message and boycotted the hotel.
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has ruled the former British colony for nearly 50 years, introduced the ban on Christmas in 2014, the same year Brunei adopted a stricter penal code, based on Islamic sharia and including punishments such as stoning and amputation.Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has ruled the former British colony for nearly 50 years, introduced the ban on Christmas in 2014, the same year Brunei adopted a stricter penal code, based on Islamic sharia and including punishments such as stoning and amputation.
The Christmas ban is justified under the new laws - the punishment for celebrating Christmas is a fine of $20,000 or up to five years in prison, or both.The Christmas ban is justified under the new laws - the punishment for celebrating Christmas is a fine of $20,000 or up to five years in prison, or both.
The ban has encountered some resistance - the social media campaign #MyTreedom, which encourages Christians and other in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran to post images of themselves celebrating Christmas, includes several contributions from Brunei residents.The ban has encountered some resistance - the social media campaign #MyTreedom, which encourages Christians and other in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran to post images of themselves celebrating Christmas, includes several contributions from Brunei residents.
At least 65 per cent of Brunei's 420,000-strong population are Muslims.At least 65 per cent of Brunei's 420,000-strong population are Muslims.