Iran rules 'decadent' Valentine's Day celebrations a crime... https://t.co/hZkhIKrqai
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) February 12, 2016
The backlash in the Islamic Republic is part of a drive against the spread of Western culture.
Here's a Place in the World Where Valentine's Day Is Actually... Illegal https://t.co/zsfBrnhBkZ
— Independent Journal (@INJO) February 15, 2016
While Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day today, the holiday is steadily gaining popularity around the world, include in Asia and the Middle East.
Not everyone around the world’s happy about it, though. Iranian police officials released a statement on Friday, warning citizens that doing anything connected to Valentine’s Day would be considered criminal, according to Al Arabiya. And they’re taking their cues from Grand Ayatollah Ali Khameini.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reports that “[i]n a speech on November 25, 2015, Khamenei warned of what he called ‘dangerous trends’ and ‘infiltrating networks’ created by the West, with ‘money and sexual attractions’ designed to ‘hollow the country of its native ideals and lifestyle and replace them with Western culture.'”
