Valentine is a season when love is celebrated. This is accompanied by gifts and everything that has to do with love. Though love doesn’t need a single day to be ‘celebrated,” this is a special day on which people express their love and affection for each other.

However, there are some places around the world where Valentine’s Day is or was prohibited due to religious tradition or other factors; here are five of them:

Malaysia

In 2005, Islamic authorities decided that there will be no more celebration of Valentine’s Day. In a bid to enforce this, a fatwa was issued prohibiting the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

The reason for this is that the authorities claimed February 14 has been used as a gateway to disaster and moral decay among young people. It is said that in Malaysia, people who go out and celebrate might face the risk of being arrested.

A few people, however, find a way to celebrate.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a large, landlocked country in Central Asia that gained its independence in 1991 with the fall of the former Soviet Union.

Valentine’s Day is also frowned upon in Uzbekistan. This Islamic country was actually tolerant of this celebration until 2012 when the Ministry of Education’s Department of Enlightenment and the Promotion of Values decided to ban it.

While it is not illegal to celebrate valentine’s Day in Uzbekistan, it is strongly discouraged, and the people are advised to celebrate the birthday of an Uzbekistan hero – Babur in place of Valentine.

Iran

In 2010, the Islamic Republic officially banned Valentine’s Day. The government decided that Valentine’s Day is a decadent celebration of love that promotes “degenerate” Western culture and illegitimate relationships.

It is actually so serious that the production of all Valentine’s Day gifts and items was also prohibited by the government.

Unmarried couples are forbidden to mingle with each other.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is another Islamic country where valentine’s day celebration was frowned upon years ago. It was said that most of the practices on valentine’s day were against the country’s ideologies and even shops were banned from selling Valentine’s Day-related items.

However, this ban has been lifted and more people now celebrate valentine’s day in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, valentine’s day is seen as against the teachings of Islam, hence celebrations are banned. The ban was introduced by Islamabad High Court in 2018 after a petition by a citizen who said Valentine’s Day was a cultural import from the West and “against the teachings of Islam.”

This country has been subject to numerous riots surrounding the celebration of Valentine’s Day. (The Nation)

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