Faith leaders condemn crackdown on Christmas

Faith leaders from across Britain have spoken out against an increasing crackdown on Christmas in Muslim countries.

Brunei has said that anyone celebrating Christmas in public will face up to five years imprisonment. Imams in the oil-rich sultanate threatened strict enforcement of the ban: 'Using religious symbols like crosses, lighting candles, putting up Christmas trees, singing religious songs, sending Christmas greetings ... are against Islamic faith,' they wrote.

Somalia's leading clerics repeated a 2013 ruling which states that 'all events related to Christmas and new year celebrations are contrary to Islamic culture.' Tajikistan, a majority-Muslim but secular republic, has tightened restrictions on festive season celebrations, banning Christmas trees and gift-giving in schools.

According to the Times, leaders including Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Ephraim Mirvis, Britain's chief rabbi, have condemned the moves.

Joy and fear

Meanwhile in a post on his official Facebook page, Prime Minister David Cameron has talked of the 'millions of families' living in refugee camps or makeshift shelters, driven from their homes by Daesh and Assad' and how 'Christians from Africa to Asia will go to church on Christmas morning full of joy, but many in fear of persecution.'

He goes on to talk about 'the birth of God's only son, Jesus Christ - the Prince of Peace. As a Christian country, we must remember what his birth represents: peace, mercy, goodwill and, above all, hope. I believe that we should also reflect on the fact that it is because of these important religious roots and Christian values that Britain has been such a successful home to people of all faiths and none.'

Source: Guardian; Times; Facebook

Please pray:

• For Christians in Muslim countries, that they will be safe as the celebrate Christmas
• For all those who have to celebrate Jesus' birth in secret.