Authorities conducted raids to quash any wayward celebrations and gift-giving in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation
Valentine’s Day wasn’t getting much love in the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation Thursday as Indonesian authorities urged amorous couples to call it quits and carried out raids to quash any wayward gift-giving.
About 100 students in the second-biggest city, Surabaya, demonstrated against the chocolates-and-flowers celebration, saying it promoted Western decadence and casual sex.
“Say no to Valentine’s now!” chanted the group of mostly female high-school students. Some held placards with phrases like “Sorry Valentine’s Day, I am Muslim”.
School principal Arief Himawan warned that couples giving each other chocolates or other treats could quickly lead to sin.
“We want to remind our young generation not to be caught up in Western culture,” he told AFP.
