Sharjah UAE Authority Bans New Year Celebrations And Fireworks Shows As Solidarity For Gazans

Illustration of fireworks in the United Arab Emirates. (Wikimedia Commons/Thomas Nilsson)

JAKARTA - The Sharjah Police, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday banned New Year's Eve celebrations and fireworks performances to show solidarity with the Gazan people.

The police urged all members of society and organizations to comply with the directive, saying legal action would be taken against those found violating the decision.

Sharjah Police General Command said the action was carried out as "a sincere expression of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation with communities in the Gaza Strip," reported The National News December 26.

The spectacular fireworks show is usually the main part of New Year's Eve celebrations across the UAE, including Sharjah.

Not long ago, Al Majaz Waterfront confirmed that it would not hold a New Year's Eve show, in connection with the large number of lives lost in the trapped Palestinian enclave.

Previously, a number of live events and concerts in the UAE were canceled or postponed in the early weeks of the Hamas war with Israel.

These include the Tanweer Sacred Hearts Festival in Sharjah, which is scheduled to be held from November 24 to 26, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, and concerts at the Coca-Cola Arena Dubai, including the debut appearance of award-winning American singers at the emirate. Khalid on Friday, October 27 and American rapper Macklemore on Saturday, October 28.