Conflicts with religious fundamentalists around the world

The celebration of Valentines Day does not come without its share of quandaries and predicaments. Over the years, there have been a growing number of protests and campaigns to stop the celebration of this day. However, this has had little impact on the youth which has been adamant each year to celebrate it amongst the protests.

Valentines is not only disliked in Islam. Hinduism also does not prohibit the celebration of this day. Shiv Sena is a very popular Hindu nationalist party prevalent in India.
Bal Thaackeray, 84 years old, has been in the news lately for his enraging remarks pointed towards Indian movie celebraity, Shahrukh Khan, and the recent remarks on the Shoaib Malik and Sania mirza affair. However, that debate is not in context of this article. Shiv Sena, along with other parties, namely the bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu, have been violently opposing this cultural tradition which has crept into our society from the West. In India last year, warnings and signals were sent out to the youth and adults alike a day before the occasion not to celebrate it. Hindu nationalist did put up a campaign being hidden in parks and public places to lash out on suspected lovers and disgrace them publicly. In fact, in parts of northern Indian state, many couples were forced to get married there and then.

In Pakistan, Jamaat Islami has been continually volunteering and raising their voice to ban the celebration of Valentines Day. However, it has gone in vain. Each year, an increasing number of youth is celebrating this day. This has also opened gates for increased revenues for florists who tend to rake in huge profits on this very day.


In the year 2002 and 2008, Saudi Arabia also took a few initiatives to eradicate what they believe is a social quandary. The country has a particular police termed as religious police and actually went to each store and outlet to remove the flowers and any items in red color. However, this ban did encourage a black market of roses and other gifts items but again, this is out of context of the argument.

Sadly, despite of the efforts put in by several governments, there has been little change in the festival celebration which has now its branches far spread into the middle eat and South Asia alike.