Muslim Youth Protest Valentine's Day in Pakistan

I woke up this morning to videos of black veiled women marching in the streets of Karachi, burning giant Valentine cards and cute little teddy bears. They are angry about the celebration of Valentine's Day in Pakistan, and some went so far as to say the government should ban the sale of Valentine trappings and impose penalties on anyone who even speaks of the holiday. Shops can sell red roses and chocolates on other days, said one article, but they shouldn't on this one.

Activists of the Sunni group Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat took to the streets of Karachi on Valentine's Day, burning paper hearts and denouncing any celebration of what they consider to be a corrupt and sinful western holiday.

I was more surprised to hear how popular Valentine's Day has become in Pakistan than I was to learn of the angry reactions. Apparently Valentine's Day has taken on new significance in contemporary Pakistan, and is no longer just another western holiday of which Pakistanis are vaguely aware. It is for some an all out celebration punctuated not only with flowers, candy and heart-shaped trinkets, but with diamonds and gold, and invitation-only parties where alcohol is served in contravention of the law.

Despite a history of arranged marriages and extended families, the face of Pakistan is changing. People in cities tend to live in nuclear families. Many young people now favour both dating and marriages based on love. Despite the fact that many shop keepers claim to be opposed to the celebration, Valentine's Day merchandise can be found on every street corner.

Some merchants say they are simply stocking what sells. In the current economy, sales are more important than any personal feelings about the significance of the day. Romantic movies play on television, radio stations offer lovers the chance to dedicate songs to one another, and eateries are so busy that it's next to impossible to get out for even a quick cup of coffee without a reservation.

One shopkeeper who was interviewed about the holiday made a point to say he wouldn't bring the celebrations home to his family. "This is an American thing that is corrupting our youth and teaching them that such relationships before marriage are OK," said Mehmood Ali Khan, who owns a gift and stationery shop.

Of course, discussions of said corruption tend to evolve around the wantonness common to American television shows like Grey's Anatomy and Glee, which hardly depict the lives of average North Americans twenty-somethings. I'm sure there are a lot of parents on this side of the ocean, who wouldn't want their children to be holding up these shows' characters as an example of how one should conduct interpersonal relations - before or during marriage!

Sources:

"The funny Valentines of Pakistan" Saira Khan (Baltimore Sun)

"In Pakistan, love braves bombs for Valentine's" Gulf Times

"Pakistani women protest against the celebration of St. Valentine day" Zamaan Online