Santa hats banned Similarly, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has also banned public celebrations of Christmas.That last paragraph sounds like how Dan Henninger describes 5th Ave this year.Religious leaders in the oil-rich sultanate warned the ban on Christmas would be strictly enforced, with violators facing up to five years in jail.
"Using religious symbols like crosses, lighting candles, putting up Christmas trees, singing religious songs, sending Christmas greetings ... are against Islamic faith," imams said in sermons published in the local press.
The government warned last year that Muslims would be committing an offence if they so much as wore "hats or clothes that resemble Santa Claus".
Christians represent about nine percent of Brunei's 430,000 population.
Businesses have been warned to take decorations down and authorities have stepped up spot checks across the capital. Hotels popular among Western tourists that once boasted dazzling lights and giant Christmas trees are now barren of festive decor.
Is this the Hotels.com “admiral”?