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The Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) has expressed concern about the decision of the government of Somalia to prohibit public celebrations of Christmas and New Year by the Christian minority in Somalia.

A statement issued by Mr. William Nyarko, Executive Director of ACILA, said that the decision does not only violate the religious freedom of Christians and other minority groups in Somalia, but it also violates several continental and international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Somalia is a party.

ACILA's statement comes following media reports of a ban imposed on public celebrations of Christmas and New Year by the Somali government. The reports quoted Sheikh Mohammed Khayrow, director general of the Religious Affairs Ministry of Somalia, as saying that the ban is needed to prevent the corruption of Islamic morals in the Muslim-majority country. Brunei had issued a similar ban.

Continuing, Mr. Nyarko explained that the ICCPR which Somalia ratified in 1990 provides for religious freedom and obliges Somalia to respect and ensure the religious freedom of all persons within its jurisdiction.

"Article 18 (1) of the ICCPR provides that "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching."

He said that although a state may place restrictions on religious freedom as provided for by Article 18 (3) on grounds of public safety, order, health, morals, or to protect the fundamental rights and freedom of others, the reason given by the Somali government does not satisfy this restriction and urged Somalia to immediately abolish the ban on public celebrations of Christmas and New Year. "There are many places in Muslim-majority countries in the world where Christians and other minorities publicly celebrate Christmas and New Year or manifest their religion without such a prohibition. We urge Somalia to learn from such examples", Mr. Nyarko said.