Council slams Christmas light hoax

A HOAX notice about a Christmas light ban, which has caused outrage and vitriol on social media, has forced the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to publicly dispel the rumours for a second time.

False claims by an anonymous internet “troll” that the council banned Christmas light displays in Cardwell at the request of Muslim residents are circulating online.

The post has gone viral, with at least 40,000 Facebook shares and thousands of comments – many of them racist against Muslims.

“Christmas lights in Cardwell, North Queensland have been banned by the local council after a complaint from the new Al Shalalah Mosque built in the town just weeks ago,” the post says.

“Iman Adnan Janutab said that the towns (sic) 100 Muslim residents found the lights to be an offensive celebration of Christmas and urged Christians to practice their beliefs privately within their homes, and not in public.

However, website Snopes .com, which claims to be “the definitive internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumours, and misinformation”, has labelled the post a hoax, pointing out that there is no such mosque in Cardwell.

The same post went viral and caused council to respond ahead of Christmas in 2013.

The council has again been forced to rubbish the claims, publishing an official statement on its website.

“Cassowary Coast Regional Council has not banned Christmas lights,” the statement says.

“A hoax message has again been circulating on social media.

“Council organises a Christmas light competition every year, encourages residents from all over the region to participate and puts Christmas decorations up in Cardwell and other major centres.”