Two Weeks Later:  

Valentine's Day was different this year, as the country witnessed a large campaign by preachers calling the celebration of the day forbidden. The controversy grew as Valentine's Day this year was made special with the visit of famous Syrian-Bahraini Singer Asalah Nasri, however, it caused Al-Qaeda to issue its first threats connecting to Valentine's Day.

In a message released few days before staging Aden's 1st Artistic Festival, Al-Qaeda Organization in Yemen issued a message threatening Asalah with assassination in case she rejects their warnings and comes to sing. However, the message spoke not about her fellow singing partner Egyptian singer Essam Kariuka.

'Your fate will be the same as that of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto,' said the message adding that they are against perversion which opposes the true spirit of Islam.

Al-Qaeda warnings caused Nasri's family to worry about her safety and some advised her not to go. They also caused Aden's local authorities to tighten security measures and to make Nassri cut her singing concert short.

The concert was timed with Valentine Day Celebrations and perhaps the organizers intentionally considered this fact in mind during their preparations for the festival.

Background

As early as AD 260s, Emperor of Rome was in need for competent soldiers and thought soldiers must not get married. He believed that married soldiers were not fit for service in army and they kept worrying about their families, when they were fighting in the battlefield. He issued an edict then ordering soldiers not to marry; however, a priest in Rome named Valentine disobeyed this order and used to validate marriage contracts for soldiers secretly. When the emperor learnt of Valentine's story, he ordered his death on Feb. 14, 269 AD. Since then, he has been considered the Saint of Love and sacred marriage relationships.

Campaigns to ban Valentine celebrations

Few months ago, a group of Yemeni religious scholars issued an edict (Fatwa) forbidding the celebrations of music concerts in the country and Islah Party, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, Sheikh Abdu Al-Majeed Al-Zindani was among the signatories.

Likewise, Yemen's Mufti and Judge Mohammed Ismael Al-Amrani issued a Fatwa early this month prohibiting young youth of both sexes from celebrating Valentine Day as it goes against Islam. The Fatwa declares that it is not of Islamic teachings and Sharia.  

Telecommunication companies were not far removed from this issue, as a telecommunication company like Sabafon, sent SMS to customers telling them it is forbidden in Islam to celebrate Valentine Day.

Like Yemen, the controversy is spread in both the Arab and Islamic world and in a country like Saudi Arabia red roses, teddy bears and red heart will disappear from flower shops days before Feb. 14 because of the campaigns of Muttaw'een (religious police). The prohibition causes Valentine items to be bought in the black market with double or triple the prices.

Saudi scholars like Aiydh Al-Qarni, a renowned Saudi Sheikh, stress that celebrating this occasion is prohibited under Islamic Sharia where there are just two religious occasions for celebrations represented in Al-Fitr and Al-Adha Eids.

Al-Qarni maintains that celebrating Valentine day goes against Islamic teachings and notes that celebrating love among married couples is not confined to one day as this sacred relation can be celebrated each and every day.

Being a very conservative society, headmasters of boy and girl schools in Saudi Arabia will search for any signs linked with Valentine Day including ribbons, boots, jackets, bags, cloths, etc. and those wearing these Valentine symbols will be prevented from entering.

Society customs

Because Yemeni society is a conservative one, celebrations among younger generations are not made publicly. Elder generations see the celebration to be imitation of atheists and breach of common decency.

University Student Mohammed Al-Baida'i indicates that his father prevented his brothers and him from celebrating, maintaining perhaps the society is not prepared enough to accept such things right now.

Manager of CAC Bank' youth's office Mohamed Al-Mutareb pointed out that he does not celebrate the event for two reasons; the first one is religious and the second is social. He went on to say that his elder brother, who is now head of his family, will allow him or any of his brothers to celebrate in case they wish to do that.

Prompted by his religious background, Al-Mutareb emphasizes that he will never celebrate the event and this has nothing to do with his elder brother's control.

"If you are not content in your innermost, you can celebrate this occasion or any other event away from your controller's eyes," remarked Al-Mutareb. 

However, he admits that such a crazy manner of youth could be taken as something normal overtime as is the case with internet and satellite channels.

What youth say

Ibrahim Al-Rayashi pointed out that he does not celebrate the occasion and stated he spent the day chewing Qat with his friends, hinting his birthday was just one day before Valentine day.

Though he does not personally celebrate, Al-Rayashi stressed that celebrations are confined to young generations and noted many of his friends celebrated the occasion.

According to him, the rituals of the occasion include meeting the beloved ones, exchanging gifts and red roses as well as hearts with Cupid signs. Further, some go to restaurants to celebrate.

Al-Rayashi's friend Abdullah Al-Surimi indicated that he spent the day chewing Qat in his telecommunication center. He still admitted that he celebrated the occasion many time before, maintaining he heard of this celebration just four years ago. He added that there are other occasions in which one can celebrate including birthday, marriage day, and first meeting day for non-married couple.

Network administrator Sabri Al-Hamdani stated that he did not celebrate because of the lack of money. "If I had had money, I would have celebrated the occasion," remarked he.

Al-Hamadani added his father will not allow his brothers and him from doing so, because he studied in Russia, and saw the negative effects  that Valentine's Day brings to society.

Al-Baida'i observed that he celebrated by wearing red cloths, and pointed out that he received red gifts; but rejected to mention what gifts he received. He hinted this occasion is widely celebrated among university students.

Private sector employee Ahmed Al-Jalal declared that there are several occasions in which one can celebrate, and stated that love between married couple should be celebrated every day.

Al-Jalal further maintained that Valentine Day is meant for illegal and illicit relationships, something that contradicts the real end for which Saint Valentine sacrificed his life. Valentine was helping couples to marry and not to commit adultery as is understood nowadays.

Stationary owner and florist Khalid pointed out that there were, unlike previous years, very few shoppers, namely because of awareness campaigns by telecommunication companies as well as Fatwa. 

Reasons making youth celebrate

Al-Mutareb remarked that 'what is prohibited is always desired' and stressed the issue can be resolved through raising the religious awareness together with showing more interest in religious and national occasions.