Iran cracks down on Valentine's Day

Ananova ^ | February 12, 2003 | Ananova

[MadIvan]

Iranian police are cracking down on Valentine's Day.

Shops have been ordered to remove decorations and Valentine's cards have been confiscated.

Authorities are trying to stop the promotion of western values because contact between unrelated men and women is discouraged.

The operation was launched by plainclothes police in wealthy north Tehran.

One young female shopper said: "The police are opposed to love and affection. They don't want us to be happy because Valentine's Day promotes happiness."

Shopkeepers say they've been told to go to the vice police headquarters in north Tehran to promise they won't sell products promoting western values.

Hamed Hosseini said: "There are a lot of good things in the western culture. They can't force people to buy and like what conservatives buy or like. It only creates hatred. It only backfires.

"Police even objected to a little mice couple in our window because they were embracing each other."

[MadIvan]

I nominate Iran for the "most boring" country award.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[bonny011765]

No Valentines Day. Now they've gone too far. Why did MadIvan say Bump!?

[Happygal]

If Iran keeps this up, they'll have a nation of young people revolting.

Valentine's Day may be 'Hallmark Day' in terms of its rampant commercialism. But a little bit of romance never killed no one! :-)

[canuck_conservative]

This is what happens when you put a bunch of sexually-insecure fanatics in charge of running a country.

[netmilsmom]

If Iran keeps this up, they'll have a nation of young people revolting.

---

Or could that be revolting young people? I think we already have that in that imaginary country called Palistine.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Maybe Cupid's arrow is in reality,a smart bomb.

[taxcontrol]

I feel that Persia will soon throw off the yoke of Islam. Remember that Islam is a relative new religion to the history of Persia.

[sinclair]

"But a little bit of romance never killed no one!" :-

Tell that to Clara Harris’ "EX"-husband.

[alethia]

Interesting article, MadIvan. Last night, hubby made an interesting statement. Said that Iran is telegraphing something about February 14th through this stance -- other than Valentines being a no-no. I had to say, well, it is a specific date and very much observed in Western countries. Hmmmmm....

[general_re]

Shopkeepers say they've been told to go to the vice police headquarters in north Tehran to promise they won't sell products promoting western values.

Officially sanctioned replacements were offered, however...

[APBaer]

"Why did MadIvan say Bump!?"

Because that's all the *bump* they are going to get?

[APBaer]

"in that imaginary country called Palistine."

"Palistine" must be imaginary, it sure isn't in my dictionary.

[Kenny Bunk]

This happened big time in Riyadh several years ago.

A very popular Italian restaurant guy decided to have a "St. Valentine's Day Special." The minute the flyers hit the street (in English) he was on a plane back to Roma.

It seems the Religious Police knew more about the history of Valentine's Day than many in the West!

[Blue Scourge]

So yet another year of sitting alone in your camel hut all alone imagining that pretty sheik's daughter was all yours.