The Saudi Health Ministry has banned celebrating birthdays and religious holidays in public hospitals and health facilities.
The rule includes greeting others in reference to a birthday or religious holiday such as Ramadan or Christmas, Saudi Gazette reported.
The ministry said the ban was based on a religious edict issued by the Dar Al Ifta 27 years ago after it learned that a government hospital had allowed its non-Muslim employees to celebrate Christmas in its housing compound for nurses.
Muslims are not allowed to greet non-Muslims on their religious occasions, Sheikh Mohammed Al Oraifi, a Saudi scholar, told the newspaper.
“If they celebrate the birth of God’s son and you greet them… it means you endorse their faith,” he said.
The conservative kingdom also does not allow the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), despite other Muslim nations allowing celebrations during the Islamic month of Rabi’ al-awwal.
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