Kuwaiti MPs Seek to Ban Valentine’s Day Celebrations
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Two Islamist MPs on Sunday called on the Kuwaiti government to ban Valentine’s Day celebrations, saying they flout Islamic values and promote immorality. “We call on the commerce minister to perform his duties by banning celebrations of Valentine’s Day which is alien to our society . . . and contradicts our religion’s values and teachings,” MP Jamaan al-Harbash told reporters. He said that Valentine’s Day, marked on February 14, spreads “immorality” in society and warned concerned authorities that he will take action against them if they do not ban it. MP Waleed al-Tabtabai, who heads a parliamentary committee for monitoring alien practices, said the panel will on Wednesday meet with officials from the ministries of information, interior and commerce to study measures required to curb the celebrations. He said they will review restrictions needed to prevent such celebrations from spreading “moral corruption” among youth in Kuwait.
(Posted on February 13, 2008)
Comments
Hindus are also very hostile to Valentine’s Day. I read that a mob burned down any shop that sold any item related to Valentine’s Day. I guess the Idea that women are to be considered anything more than chattel is alien to the non-Indo-European mind.
Posted by Tony Soprano. at 6:23 PM on February 13
“which is alien to our society” Out of the mouths of babes and mullahs…
Posted by Tim Mc Hugh at 6:38 PM on February 13
Over the last several centuries Western culture has evolved to a norm of marriage by elective affinity. Valentine’s Day is a symbol thereof. A culture wherein marriage is arranged for familial strategising, would find ancillary customs to the Western norm alien, as we in the West by and large reject arranged marriage and the ancillary norms of any variant of that custom. In Western culture, it is Romantic love that causes marriage. In cultures holding to any variant of arranged marriage, love is supposed to come after marriage and as a result of marriage; and even the idea of “Romantic” love is suspicionable.
Posted by Robert Pinkerton at 6:45 PM on February 13
“We call on the commerce minister to perform his duties by banning celebrations of Valentine’s Day which is alien to our society … and contradicts our religion’s values and teachings,”
Right. Love has no place in Islamic society. How about an alternative holiday celebrating a distinctly muslim approach to relationships. It’s going to be called “marry your cousin and have sex with her against her will” day
Posted by at 6:55 PM on February 13
Kuwaitis Are protecting their own culture from multicultural confusion.
We should do the same.
Posted by Oldman at 7:42 PM on February 13
In Islam being “gay” is immoral but having sex with young boys is alright. If you don’t believe me check out www.faithfreedom.org. Muslims are so sanctimonious its just unbelievable.
Posted by at 8:02 PM on February 13
There ya go - this proves Islam is NOT a “religion of love” What more do you need? They hate everyone, and everything - even a little heart-shaped box of chocolates, and a bunch of flowers!!!
Posted by lydia at 8:20 PM on February 13
Two Islamist MPs on Sunday called on the Kuwaiti government to ban Valentine’s Day celebrations, saying they flout Islamic values and promote immorality. He said they will review restrictions needed to prevent such celebrations from spreading “moral corruption”…..
Well, of course! Islam isn’t for lovers, it’s for haters. Everyone knows that (except GWB).
MP Waleed al-Tabtabai who heads a parliamentary committee for monitoring alien practices…
A committee for monitoring alien practices? Well now, THERE’S an idea that perhaps we could use!
Posted by browser at 8:43 PM on February 13
Once again, people, it’s not “Valentine’s Day”, but “Saint Valentine’s Day”. It’s supposed to honor a Christian martyr who developed an innovative way to spread love from his prison cell.
In other words, it’s the antithesis of Islam. No wonder they want to ban it!
Posted by Reg at 9:57 PM on February 13
This is the country American soldiers died for? Good grief!
Posted by at 10:41 PM on February 13
A committee for monitoring alien practices? Can we get one of those?
Posted by kevin at 10:54 PM on February 13
“He said they will review restrictions needed to prevent such celebrations from spreading “moral corruption” among youth in Kuwait.”
The authorities did, however, concede that it would be o.k. for the boys to give a box of candy to their camels.
Posted by Robert Kelly at 11:03 PM on February 13
America needs a white, Christian, ‘Jamaan al-Harbash’.
Posted by at 11:12 PM on February 13
Who cares what they do in Kuwait? They can cut off their own genitals for all I care. Just as long as they get out of my land.
Posted by Flamethrower at 11:45 PM on February 13
I didn’t see anything, in the article, against love. Only against an alien practice imported by the most powerful country in the world as part of a “cultural colonialism”. I don’t blame them for not wanting it in their country and I respect them wanting to keep their own traditions. When are Western nations going to do likewise and stand up for THEIR traditions?
Posted by jewamongyou at 12:00 AM on February 14
Great. It’s their country, they can do what they want. But quit coming to western countries and telling us we have to adapt to your ways. (Thanks to our traitorous politicians)
Posted by SG at 9:42 AM on February 14
I’ve got no problem with this. It’s a Muslim country and they can say, think and do whatever they think is right for them. Who are we to tell them or anybody else, how to live their lives?
Tom Iron…
Posted by Tom Iron... at 9:57 AM on February 14
I didn’t see anything, in the article, against love.
Well, the article wasn’t very explicit. EXACTLY what was it they objected to? Love is the general idea behind Valentine’s day.
Only against an alien practice imported by the most powerful country in the world .
Posted by jewamongyou
The same country that went to war only a few years ago to save them! You might have mentioned that. Or is that irrelevant?
They don’t want our filthy, immoral, alien customs? Fine! Then don’t take our support either.
They happen to be a client state, dependent on the hand that feeds them (and which makes them rich). They’re not in a position to be haughty. We should have left them to Saddam. (And we should have left Saddam alone.)
Posted by browser at 1:54 PM on February 14
“I’ve got no problem with this. It’s a Muslim country and they can say, think and do whatever they think is right for them.
Who are we to tell them or anybody else, how to live their lives?”
Tom Iron…
— — — — — — —
Fine,Tom. I’ve got no prooblem with it either. Just withdraw our trroops and our support and leave them to their own resources (and to their neighbors!).
Who are we? He who pays the piper calls the tune. We’re the piper, that’s who.
Posted by browser at 1:59 PM on February 14
Browser wrote:
“The same country that went to war only a few years ago to save them! You might have mentioned that. Or is that irrelevant?
They don’t want our filthy, immoral, alien customs? Fine! Then don’t take our support either.
They happen to be a client state, dependent on the hand that feeds them (and which makes them rich). They’re not in a position to be haughty. We should have left them to Saddam. (And we should have left Saddam alone.)”
I’m sure if you examined whatever agreement the U.S. and Kuwait have, it doesn’t mention anything about taking on American traditions and Christian holidays. My guess is it has something to do with military bases and oil. I’m also going to go out on a limb here and guess that Kuwait had two options: 1) be an ally of the U.S. or 2) be an enemy of the U.S. Not much of a choice; what would YOU do?
Posted by jewamongyou at 6:57 PM on February 14
“it doesn’t mention anything about taking on American traditions and Christian holidays. “
— — — — —
Valentine’s Day (much like Christmas) has been so secularized today that I’m sure most Americans don’t even realize it’s really Saint Valentine’s Day — originally the feast day of a Christian saint. They don’t see it as religious. It’s a secular festival. Just ask them who St. Valentine was, and I’m willing to bet that 99% couldn’t tell you. (Even I will have to look him up.)
But I take no offense Kuwaitis reject it; and I certainly don’t want to push it on anyone. Personally, I don’t care what they do (as long as they do it in their own country). They’re the ones missing out.
What’s galling is their persistent attitude of intolerance and fanaticism, something that would be condemned as “xenophobia” if practiced by us. Aparently for them it’s alright, though.
Posted by browser at 1:53 AM on February 15
I propose that Kuwaitis celebrate “Honor Killing Day” on February 14. They all could publically stone their daughters who have fallen in love during the preceeding year. A mass stoning of innocent young women would be perfectly in keeping with traditional Islamic values, even if romantic love is not.
In a similar story, a Saudi court has locked up a woman accused of being a “witch,” so perhaps an annual Witch Burning Day could also be officially gazetted on the calendars of these medieval people.
Posted by Michael C. Scott at 4:37 PM on February 15
Ah, Kuwait…the country that Bush Senior liberated back in 1991, a country touted as a “moderate” home of Islam, like Jordan is supposed to be.
Posted by Old Victorian at 4:42 PM on February 16