BANDA ACEH GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Banda Aceh, 19 Rabi’ul Awwal 1437/30 December 2015 (MINA) – The government ini city of Banda Aceh, Aceh privince, west of Indonesia prohibits its Muslim residents to celebrate new year’s eve. The prohibition was also announced in previous years.

The capital of Aceh province has announce a prohibition to its Muslim residents not to celebrate new year’s eve. Aceh is the only city in indonesia that is permitted to implement shari’a law. Local media Serambi Indonesia quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

In 2005, central government in Jakarta has offered a special autonomy to political elites in Aceh by the permission of shari’a law implementation as part of the negotiation to end the decades of separatism movement.

Deputy Mayor of Banda Aceh Zainal Arifin explained to reporters that the tradition of new year’s celebration belongs to Christians.

“It is haraam (forbidden) for Muslims to celebrate new year. Hence the government of the city has announce the prohibition,” Arifin said.

He added that the government of the city must be consistent in applying shari’a thoroughly.

Earlier, the government of Banda Aceh has also announce the prohibition for Muslims in the city to celebrate Christmas.

In previous years, the same government has also prohibited new year celebrations.

New year celebration is not an islamic culture. Meanwhile the majority of Aceh residents are Muslims. That is why it is forbidden to celebrate a non-islamic tradition, when asked about the reason of the announcement.

“We will continue to monitor the inplementation of Islam, including monitoring what is not allowed to tale place such as new year celebration by Muslims of Banda Aceh,” concluded Arifin. (T/P001/NMT)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)