Halloween Banned In Jordan, Muslim Brotherhood Declare It "Homosexual and Satanic"
While you were running down Santa Monica Boulevard in your tight white trunks and halo last night, your gay counterparts in Jordan were stuck at home. That's because earlier this week, Halloween was outlawed in the Middle Eastern country due to its "homosexual and satanic" nature.
The decision was reportedly made in an attempt to preemptively stop riots in the city of Amman, which have raged on Halloween night for at least the last two years. Speaking with Arab news source Al Ghad, a spokesperson from Jordan's Interior Ministry said the country-wide ban went in to effect only after religious groups began planning possible attacks.
Last year the Muslim Brotherhood attacked a venue in Amman holding a Halloween party, effectively ending what it described as the "homosexual and satanic" rituals inside.
After the attack, the Brotherhood issued a statement about the "grotesque acts" happening at the venue:
We watched with disgust and shame last night homosexual and Satanic rituals in an Amman cafe.This presents a challenge to the values of the Jordanian people and their Arab and Muslim identity, as well as a violation of religious laws.
The Muslim Brotherhood applied for a permit to assemble before the holiday was cancelled in the country earlier this week, but a lack of news out of Jordan this morning implies things must have went over smoothly.
The LA Times reports that frustrated partygoers still went ahead with their planned celebrations, though a few alterations were made to abide by the new law. "Our party is still on," the paper reported a sign outside a venue declared. "They can't take our right to party. So no costumes, but still an awesome time."
