Sierra Leone Christians contest ban on Christmas celebrations By KEMO CHAM in Freetown - Nigerian pilgrims pray as part of Christmas celebrations inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2014 in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem. Christmas celebrations have been banned in Sierra Leone to help fight the Ebola spread. PHOTO | AFP Christian leaders in Sierra Leone have demanded detailed explanation of emergency measures restricting commemoration of Christmas and New Year. The Body of Christ Sierra Leone say they have sacrificed a lot in measures already announced by the government aimed at limiting interaction in public to containing the spreading Ebola virus. Their concerns follow the alleged arrest of five pastors by security personnel for still unclear reasons. The government earlier this month announced the ban on all outdoor celebrations of Christmas and last week announced further measures, including a partial curfew on trading in Freetown and its environs at specific time of the day. Among the measures is the ban of New Years celebrations as well as its eve, known as Watch Night. Church services have been limited to up to 5pm on the day, after which everyone is expected indoors. The majority Muslim A statement signed by the President of the Council of Churches of Sierra Leone and read by Bishop Archibald Cole, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, claimed the church was not adequately informed of the exact detail of Operation Western Surge. Freetown and its surrounding remain the epicentre of the epidemic, which has claimed over a 1,000 lives. The government blames bad traditional and religious practices and says restricting movement of the people and preventing crowding could contain the spread. While struggling to identify with the governments concerns, the Christian leaders say the restrictions must not prevent them from serving God. Watch Night has now been turned into a Watch Day... which is very crucial in the history of the Church, noted Bishop Cole. He said the government needed to listen to Christians concerning their faith. Christians represent about 30 per cent of the majority Muslim country, but the former remain a major influence in both politics and business spheres.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 12:49:27 +0000
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