News and commentary on Religion, especially Southern religion.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

My illegal Valentine

As Valentines Day approaches in Saudi Arabia, red items celebrating the holiday become illegal. The Associated Press reports:

Police scour shops and reminders are printed in newspapers:

As Feb. 14 approaches, newspapers reprint a fatwa or religious edict issued by scholars a few years ago, declaring "eid al-hob," Arabic for the feast of love, a "Christian, pagan feast" that Muslims should not celebrate. Teachers remind students they must not mark the festival, and girls are warned against wearing anything red.

Lovers, as through the ages against other obstacles, find their ways around these things. Not for the sake of defiance, but as a 24-year-old Saudi student put it, today in celebration of "a day of love."

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