The Banda Aceh administration has banned its residents from celebrating New Year's Eve, claiming that such celebrations were haram, an official said on Monday.

Banda Aceh deputy mayor Zainal Arifin said that celebrating New Year's Eve was not a part of Islamic culture, while the majority of Banda Aceh citizens were Muslims. He added that the administration in cooperation with local consultative forum (Muspida) had issued a regulation banning New Year's Eve celebrations this Thursday.

"It is haram [forbidden] for Muslims to celebrate New Year, so the administration has banned everyone from celebrating it," he said as quoted by Antara news agency on Monday.

The Banda Aceh administration also prohibited Muslims from joining Christmas celebrations last week.

"The city administration will continue to urge Banda Aceh citizens, who are mostly Muslim, to not celebrate Christmas and the New Year as it is haram," he said.

Zainal said that the Banda Aceh government would consistently implement Sharia-based bylaws, locally known as Qanun, that prohibit local Muslims from taking part in non-Islamic cultural events.

He added that the administration would closely monitor the implementation of the Sharia-based bylaws to prevent citizens from committing violations. (cal/rin)