Kuwaiti MPs Seek to Ban Valentine’s Day Celebrations

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.