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'Valentine's Day is immoral'
11/02/2006 16:55 - (SA)
Srinagar - An Islamic separatist women's group, known for its fierce opposition to Western-style romance, has vowed to prevent couples celebrating Valentine's Day in the Indian state of Kashmir.
Aasiya Andrabi, leader of the separatist Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or Daughters of Faith, said on Saturday: "We will not allow anyone to observe Valentine's Day as it does nothing but spread immorality among youth.
"Valentine's Day is against our culture and Islamic teachings."
The group supports a 16-year-old separatist insurgency against New Delhi's rule in Indian Kashmir, and is also engaged in "stamping out immorality" in the Muslim-majority region.
The group kicked off its campaign against "Lover's Day" in Srinagar on Friday. Supporters raided half a dozen shops, confiscating Valentine's Day cards and making a bonfire of them.
Andrab said the aim of Valentine's Day is to "pave the way for Western culture to invade youths' hearts and minds and distance them from their traditional culture and Islamic principles.
"We want to save our youth from indecency and desire to see them as true followers of Islam. We won't like them to follow Western culture."
- AFP
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