Police Raid Homes To Stop Celebrations In Indonesia Over Valentine’s Day

As many people were observing good times with Valentine, Indonesians practice a moderate form of Islam and celebrate the day with chocolates and flowers for their loved ones.

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Police Raid Homes To Stop Celebrations In Indonesia Over Valentine's Day

Findings has it that Valentine’s Day wasn’t getting much love in the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation Thursday as Indonesian authorities urged amorous couples to call it quits and carried out raids to quash any wayward gift-giving.

Further reports say that about 100 students in the second-biggest city, Surabaya, demonstrated against the chocolates-and-flowers celebration, saying it promoted Western decadence and casual sex.

“Say no to Valentine’s now!” chanted the high schoolers, most of them teenaged girls in hijab head coverings. Some held placards with phrases like “Sorry Valentine’s Day, I am Muslim”.

School principal Arief Himawan warned that couples giving each other chocolates or other treats can quickly lead to sin.

“We want to remind our young generation not to be caught up in Western culture,” he told AFP.

Authorities conducted raids in Surabaya, and Makassar city on Sulawesi island to snuff out any celebrations.

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 s-e-x 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.

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