By AFP Published Monday, January 03, 2011
Legal action threatened against anyone violating the ban. Valentine's Day is increasingly popular in Iran….but…
Shops in Iran have been banned from selling Valentine cards and gifts as the traditional lovers' day gains increasing popularity in the Islamic republic, the ILNA news agency reported.
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"In the run up to Valentine's Day on Feb. 14 the printing works owners' union issued a directive banning the printing and distribution of any goods promoting this day," ILNA news agency reported.
"Printing and producing any goods related to this day including posters, boxes and cards emblazoned with hearts or half-hearts, red roses and any activities promoting this day are banned," the union said in the directive.
Posters and cards with couples arguing and fighting will still be sold.
"Outlets that violate this will be legally dealt with," it warned. Over the past three decades Iran's conservative Islamic regime has sought to prevent the spread of Western culture among its overwhelmingly young population.
Because yes, love is a western thing...ha
But Valentine's Day has become very popular in Iran over the past decade, with young men and women exchanging chocolate, flowers, perfume, teddy bears and other gifts on Feb. 14. Every year, gift shops in large cities are festooned with Valentine's Day paraphernalia and restaurants in Tehran are packed with young men and women out on a date.
Aw I think they should all have an old fashioned 'Love In'.
However, the trend has been harshly criticized by conservatives who see no room in Islamic culture for such celebrations.
Pfffttt....that's cos everyone knows they can't get a date.
Now this next story I found absurdly funny, and you know how I like the funny :D
Happy Birthday Muhammad
By Staff Published Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Most hotels across the UAE have moved their special Valentine's Day dining offers to February 13 as Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing confirmed hotels would not be allowed to serve alcohol on the 14th.
But they are allowed to serve alcohol on the 15th which is...
The birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PartyBoy-U-Holla!) falls on February 15, so it is considered illegal to serve alcohol the day before, reported 'The National'.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority also confirmed that 14th will be a dry night in the capital. Hotels big and small are shifting their celebrations to the 13th and 15th, and some are offering special packages throughout the month.
Aditi Daga, spokeswoman for InterContinental Dubai, Festival City Hotel, was quoted as saying: “We have moved some of our dining offers to the previous day, Sunday."
The hotel offers a Dh50,000-package throughout the month, which includes a limo pick-up, and a boat ride to the hotel, a spa treatment in private suites, along with caviar. The champagne available on other days will be replaced on the 14th with sparkling grape juice.
I woulda thought sparkling Zam Zam water but whatever
The Renaissance Dubai Hotel said alcohol would not be served for 24 hours from 6pm on the 14th. It plans to celebrate on 13th and the 15th, with an option on the 14th that does not include alcohol or live entertainment.
You might be wondering why the day before Muhammad's birthday drinking and merriment is illegal and that would be a logical question. And the logical answer is, you might drink too much on the 14th, wake up with a hang-over and forget it's his birthday.
Seriously, their are many Hadith that tell of how much Muhammad enjoyed celebrations especially those of other cultures. He enjoyed their music, their dance, their food, and their stories. Especially if they weren't trying to kill him. Trying to persuade people to trade their many gods for one wasn't always a fun job. A good party with good people was always a welcomed good time.
Abu Bakr and the boys were afraid of music, celebrations and women. Seems many of these bushy faced, dress wearing fun hatin' mullahs and imams prefer to imitate them. If you read the last fatwa you know that loving a woman is sick, sick, sick.
I hope they all watch the following video (one my favourites)
the end should freak them out :D