Graphic by Asyrique Thevendran/The Gazelle

AMMAN, Jordan — On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Jordanian government prohibited public Halloween celebrations. Bars and clubs were warned not to host Halloween-themed events for security reasons and individuals caught wearing costumes in public were told they could be arrested.

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Ziad al-Zoubi, the ban was ordered to avoid the repetition of the Halloween riots and attacks of previous years.

Both this year and last year, non-violent demonstrations were held in downtown Amman condemning, among other issues, the celebration of what is regarded as a Western, anti-religious holiday. Two years ago, however, tensions escalated into riots. On Oct. 31 of 2012, more than 200 protesters gathered around the entrance of a café hosting a Halloween event in the Abdoun neighborhood of Amman. The protesters attempted to storm the venue and tried to set the entrance alight and rocks were thrown at partygoers as they fled.

The following morning, Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood released a statement saying:

“We watched with disgust and shame last night [Friday] homosexual and Satanic rituals in an Amman café. 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 Brotherhood further condemned the Jordanian Gendarmerie police force, which was called to disperse the crowds, and the government for allowing such an event to take place.

This year’s Halloween-ban comes amid concerns of an increase in religious fundamentalism in Jordan. Aside from Halloween celebrations, several bars and Western cafés in Amman have received threats from fundamentalists in the previous months, leading to a visible increase in security presence. Oct. 31 passed without incident in Amman, but measures are being taken to avoid providing any pretext for religiously fueled clashes.