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The Somali government has banned Christmas celebrations according to a directive issued on Tuesday.

The ban came just hours before Christmas and copies of the directive were distributed in hotels and other public areas.

This is the first time that such a ban has been imposed by the Somali government since the last central government collapsed in 1991.

The Ministry of Justice and religious Affairs announced that law and security enforcement agents would counter any such celebrations.

This move has been widely criticised as violation of human rights.

Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow Aden the Director General and Sheikh Ali Mohamud Director of Religious matters made the announcement at a press conference held in Mogadishu.

The ban came just hours before Christmas Day, when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, their spiritual saviour.

“We alert fellow Muslims in Somalia that some festivities to mark Christian Days will take place around the world in this week,” said Sheikh Ali Dhere during the press conference, adding: “It is prohibited to celebrate those days in this country.”

He added that copies of the directive were delivered to hotels and other meeting places in Mogadishu.

Islam is the national religion of Somalia and according to the country’s provisional constitution, Islam is the only religion allowed to practice.

Officials did not shed any light on whether non-Muslim foreign workers or residents could celebrate or not.

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