Police authorities in Indonesia yesterday, conducted raids in various cities to snuff out couples who indulged in sexual acts in celebration of Valent
Police authorities in Indonesia yesterday, conducted raids in various cities to snuff out couples who indulged in sexual acts in celebration of Valentine’s Day, including gift giving considered way ward, in a bid to get them to quit the celebrations. Some of the cities where homes were raided include Surabaya and Makassar city on Sulawesi island.
About 100 high school students, most of them teenaged girls in hijab head coverings demonstrated in the second-biggest city, Surabaya against the chocolates-and-flowers celebration, saying it promoted Western decadence and casual sex.
“Say no to Valentine’s now!” “Sorry Valentine’s Day, I am Muslim”, some of the placards read.
In conservative Aceh province, the only place in Indonesia that imposes Islamic law, a fresh Valentine’s prohibition was issued, citing religious norms. People are publicly whipped in the region for a wide range of offenses including selling alcohol and gay sex and similar bans have been ordered in previous years.
While Valentine’s was off the cards for some, many Indonesians practise a moderate form of Islam and celebrate the day with chocolates and flowers for their loved ones.
Meanwhile in India, more than 10,000 schoolchildren, some as young as six, made a Valentine’s Day pledge not to marry without their parents’ consent. The vast majority of Indian marriages are arranged by families and couples who defy tradition to marry outside caste and religion face a severe and sometimes deadly backlash.
Some 10,000 pupils aged six to 17 and even some teachers took a vow at 25 schools to love and respect their parents till eternity in the western state of Gujarat, the stronghold of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Elsewhere, a school association in the southern state of Karnataka alerted teachers and parents to ensure children did not celebrate Valentine’s Day by bunking classes to go to shopping malls or the movies, The Times of India newspaper reported.
