One Place in World Has Banned Valentine's Day

Haters of roses and hearts can head to Pakistan
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 13, 2017 1:35 PM CST
One Place in World Has Banned Valentine's Day
A couple take 'selfie' in front of a giant heart-shaped bouquet display on Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016. Valentine's Day is considered un-Islamic by some in Pakistan, but many still buy flowers and exchange gifts.   (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

The many enemies of heart-shaped candies, flowers, candlelight, and syrupy emotions in general might want to take a day trip on Tuesday: to Pakistan, which has officially banned Valentine's Day. The grinches of love in this instance belong to the Islamabad High Court, which issued the ban Monday on all things Valentine's (think merchandise, advertisements, any sort of public celebration) after a plaintiff complained that such saccharinity goes "against the teachings of Islam and should be banned immediately." The ban—which was to be watched over by the national Electronic Media Regulatory Authority—had at least florists worried: "If they ban us from selling these tomorrow then it will be a disaster, we simply cannot afford this," one tells CNN. (Another country banned Valentine's Day back in 2012.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X