Press Release
Celebrating the Gregorian New Year is Forbidden! It Must Be Resisted Until It Disappears Completely
(Translated)

Previously, when a member of Hizb ut Tahrir used to say: “Celebrating the New Year is forbidden,” some people who did not understand the reality well would report him to the police, but today, by Allah’s grace, most of the population has stayed away from celebrating the New Year because of our people’s desire to adhere to Islam. But it is unfortunate that the secular government that was imposed on Muslims by force is clinging to celebrating the Gregorian New Year again - against the will of the Muslim people - let alone staying away from it.

For example, last year, launching fireworks on New Year's Eve was banned for environmental reasons (not because Allah forbade it!). Now it is allowed once again, while the environmental situation has not changed at all compared to last year! However, this secular government allows fireworks in the context of spreading manifestations of kufr, regardless of people's health.

Currently, the president himself is busy preparing for the New Year’s celebration. Instructions have been issued to erect fir trees (Christmas trees) and celebrate this day with pomp everywhere, even in remote villages, and to punish the leaders who neglect it.

Millions from the budget were allocated for this celebration. If it is said “money allocated from the budget,” some people feel that this money is coming from somewhere else. In fact, isn't this money my money and yours?! Didn't the state forcefully take that money from us as taxes?! However, you and I are not going to celebrate - but the secular government and some Muslims who follow it, who have not understood their Islam, and cannot distinguish between halal and haram, are celebrating with our money! If we do not oppose this, we will become accomplices in their celebration (in their sin).

It is known that the president issued a decision “on the procedures for organizing family celebrations and commemorating the deceased,” justifying this as an effort “against extravagance (Israf).” In fact, the money spent on the above-mentioned activities - with the exception of certain cases - is not considered extravagance (Israf), according to Shariah, because it is among the activities that are permissible according in the Shar’. Extravagance, according to Islamic law, is spending money on Haram things.

As it is known, the government banned some personal activities of the people under the pretext of “Israf,” but the government itself continues its real “Israf,” organizing New Year celebrations is a clear example of this. Therefore, the government's "fight against extravagance “Israf,” is an attempt to show itself as populist in front of the people, while extravagance (Israf) continues to reach its peak.

While the majority of the Kyrgyz people live in poverty, the government wastes the money it collects from Muslims on Israf. On top of that, they waste it on celebrating the festival of kufr. In fact, the government knows that celebrating such “festivals” is forbidden by Islamic law.

O Muslims! Do not throw yourselves into Hellfire by following your rulers who follow their kaffir masters, those who pretend to be populists, and fight for power. So, resist such evil until it disappears completely! If you show your will to resist and show that you are the majority among the people, they will begin to oppose the celebration of the New Year, even if that does not stem from their belief, but rather from their desire for power, just as those in power used to stand in the first row at the Eid prayers.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kyrgyzstan