Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day of love and happiness but one city in Indonesia has banned the festival after deeming it an ‘unlawful act’ under Islamic law.
The government in the city of Banda Aceh, located on the island of Sumatra, have requested that locals no longer give cards or chocolates to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
The city’s mayor, Illiza Saaduddin Djamal, declared that under Islamic law, Valentine’s day is considered a forbidden act.
‘Our society and the Muslim youth should certainly not be celebrating non-Islamic holidays.
‘The law says it is haram. The government is obliged to protect the public and younger generation from unlawful acts,’ he said.
Police will be patrolling the streets of the city, warning people from giving flowers or other gifts for Valentine’s Day, according to Breitbart.
The conservative province has been maintaining a strict Islamic criminal code, criminalizing adultery, homosexuality, and public displays of affection outside of a legally recognized relationship.
Aceh is the only province in the Muslim-dominated country to adhere to sharia, Islamic law, which puts it at odds with other provinces where the vast majority of the population practices a moderate form of the religion.
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