Even without the looming shadow of last year’s New Year’s Eve attack by an Islamic State (IS) follower on a popular nightclub in Istanbul, this year's celebrations will be far from happy in Turkey. All street celebrations have been banned in the Taksim district, the heart of Istanbul, as well as Besiktas and Sisli. While it is possible to tie the bans to security concerns, how does one explain the removal of New Year’s street decorations in the chic district of Sisli, famous for its high-end street parties? Engin Bas, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, tweeted, “Is there a terror threat against the new year ornaments and lights?”
As in the past few years, Islamist newspapers have dedicated interviews, columns and entire sections to Christmas and New Year's, in particular reasons for not celebrating the latter. The Religious Affairs Directorate resumed its usual December sermons decrying alcohol and gambling as “dirty deeds of the devil” and warning Muslims against “temptation,” a thinly veiled reference to New Year’s Eve celebrations. Handouts from diehard critics opposing celebrating on the last night of the year have also surfaced around most Turkish cities as usual.
