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Regional governments, MUI ban Valentine's Day celebrations
Regional governments and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have banned the celebration of Valentine's Day on Feb
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egional governments and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have banned the celebration of Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, 2015, citing its potentially harmful effects on the morals of young persons.
Makassar Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto (South Sulawesi) has banned the Valentine's Day celebrations and the sale of the Valentine's Day souvenirs.
"I forbid Valentine's Day celebrations, including the sale of Valentine souvenirs that have "love and heart" pictures [on them]," he said on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
His announcement was followed by Padang Mayor Mahyeldi Asyarullah (West Sumatra), who said in Padang on Thursday that Valentine's Day celebrations were bad.
"Padang never recognizes the Valentine Day," he stressed.
On Thursday, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi disclosed that Valentine's Day was incompatible with the personality of Indonesian people.
Not all cultures from the outside are good to be imitated by the people of Indonesia. Moreover, the majority of Indonesia's population are Muslims, he said.
Valentine's Day offered no benefits for the Indonesian people, he stressed.
The governor added that affection should not be shown on Valentine's Day.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) chairman of education affairs, Anwar Abbas, pointed out that Valentine's Day celebrations only damaged the character and morality of the younger generations, according to Antara. (hhr)
