Posted on 02/15/2008 2:49:44 PM PST by forkinsocket
SRINAGAR, India (AFP) — A Kashmiri Islamic women's group Thursday raided restaurants to prevent young Muslim couples from meeting on Valentine's Day, an event it denounced by as "anti-Islamic."
"We have formed a number of squads to educate young couples that Valentine's Day is a Western conspiracy to involve Muslims in vulgar activities," said Nahida, a member of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or Daughters of Faith, as she took part in a swoop on a restaurant in Srinagar.
The women's group, all covered from head-to-toe, did not encounter any resistance as couples patiently listened to them and left restaurants.
Nahida, who did not give her second name, said such "peaceful raids" were being conducted across Srinagar, Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir's summer capital.
"Thanks to Allah, no one sold Valentine's Day cards in Srinagar this year," she said.
Last year dozens of activists marched through Srinagar and burnt Valentine's Day cards.
"Valentine's Day is against our culture and Islamic teachings," Nahida told a couple inside a restaurant as police watched from a distance.
"As long as everything passes off peacefully we will not intervene," but if they (women activists) use force, we will act," said police officer Pervez Ahmed.
Kashmir is socially conservative, but in recent years couples have openly dated in parks, restaurants and Internet cafes.
Please tell me that Islamic Rage Boy was there! It’s not a riot or demonstration without him!
I knew it. This proves it. Love is anti-islamic. There ya have it.
It really is the religion of choice for people who just don't have the brains for scientology
OTOH, it’s redhot in the rest of India, particularly cities, with plenty of women enjoying the notion of gifts from willing men.
The bright side is, at least places weren’t being blown up in opposition.
Wonder how many of the sisters secretly thought it wasn’t a bad idea.
Face it, once women get used to the benefits of VDay, it’s pretty much over in terms of increasing widespread acceptance.
Having one day where the men have to show how much they care is a big exclaimation counter point to the male chauvenism in Asia. I agree, it’s rapidly accepted because women like it. Like Mother’s day also getting accepted world wide.
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