Just days before Valentine's Day, a young Saudi woman desperately searched for a red teddy bear to buy for her boyfriend-- but none were to be found. It's not because the store couldn't keep up with demand. It is because fear of the religious police forced the store's owner to strip the shelves of all red items.
As February 14 approaches, Saudi Arabian police begin inspecting gift shops for items that are red or are intended as gifts to mark the holiday—a celebration of St. Valentine, a 3rd century Christian martyr—which is banned in Saudi Arabia. Such items are legal at other times of the year, but as Valentine's Day nears they become contraband.
At best, shops caught selling Valentine's gifts are ordered to get rid of them. Some salesmen have been detained for days.
Marking Christian holidays is banned in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and a country where non-Muslims are banned from openly practicing their religion. Celebrating any holidays but the two most important for Muslims—Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr_ is taboo because they are considered "religious innovations" that Islam does not sanction. Even birthdays and Mother's Day are frowned on by the religious community.
1 comment:
.
It's good to see that love and the market are stronger than unreasonableness. Since many Islamic clerics condemn it as a non-Muslim Holiday, and say that Muslims may not celebrate a Christian (or Pagan) holiday; and since their 'Religious Police' enforce this, it's pretty safe to say that Sharia Law is against this. Not all Muslims of course, just the Law governing them in Saudi Arabia and other countries.
India's radical Hindus are rabidly against V-Day too.
How very enlightened and civilized.
.
here’s an absurd thought -
your Supreme God says
outlaw Valentine's Day
confiscate ALL red roses
keep men and women apart
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
Valentine's Day is evil
it just reminds the people
about Christianity
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
destroy ALL Valentine's cards
remove items colored red
from all the store's shelves
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe fears
a Christian minority
even though they may not build
or repair their churches
.
USpace
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.
Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
.
Help STOP Terrorism Today!
.
:)
.
Post a Comment