New Year’s Eve celebrations cancelled in Indonesia, banned by Islamic extremists threaten violence
In response to massive protests by extremist Islamic groups in recent days, the management of Hermes Palace – a multi-starred hotels in Banda Aceh – have canceled plans for New Year’s Eve.
The Ulema Advisory Council of Banda Aceh (MPU) has called on the Muslim community not to “celebrate” Christmas and New Year because “they are not Islamic holidays.”
The celebrations for the last day of the year were planned some time ago, but the pressure from fundamentalist movements in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia where Shariah , or Islamic law is in vigor, has led to the evening’s cancellation for safety reasons and public order.
The decision came after a meeting with Islamic leaders, who have proclaimed themselves the “guardians of Sharia law in Aceh.”
The hotel managers were forced to publish a written document confirming the cancellation of all the events planned for the evening, including music and dance.
The hotel, however, can organize similar events in any one evening in 2014 , but not New Year’s Eve because it “does not come from the Islamic calendar , but comes from the Christian tradition”.
The fundamentalist movements also promise raids and punishment for those who organize parties or celebrations for the last night of the year.
The governor of Aceh and the police chief have been placed in charge of enforcing Islamic norms , such as the ban on alcohol, the explosion of fireworks and other things that are not inherent to the Muslim culture
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