Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day
AFP - Sunday, February 13
Send
IM Story
Print
Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - – As couples around the world ready for Valentine's Day, Islamic officials in Malaysia have warned Muslims against celebrating something "synonymous with vice activities."
The warning follows plans announced last week by several Malaysian states who are planning a crackdown on "immoral acts" during Valentine's Day as part of a campaign to encourage a sin-free lifestyle.
"In reality, as well as historically, the celebration of Valentine's Day is synonymous with vice activities," Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), which oversees the country's Islamic policies, told state media.
"Islam would reject anything, even from the Eastern culture, if it contravenes the Islamic teachings," he added.
Wan Mohamad said a fatwa (ruling) issued by the country's top clerics six years ago noted the day "is associated with elements of Christianity," and "we just cannot get involved with other religion's worshipping rituals."
JAKIM officials will carry out a nationwide 'Mind the Valentine's Day Trap' campaign, he said, aimed at preventing Muslims from celebrating the day.
Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi, head of the Islamic party PAS's youth wing said Wednesday that authorities in the opposition-controlled northern states of Kedah, Penang and Kelantan as well as central Selangor state will also carry out "immorality checks" on February 14.
PAS is part of the opposition alliance that won control of the four states in 2008 elections. Its conservative stance has caused friction with its two partners including the liberal and ethnic Chinese-based Democratic Action Party.
"We have identified spots in these states which are used by lovers and we are deploying local religious department officials as well as party members to stop such sinful acts like casual sex, which violates Islam," he told AFP.
Catholic church leaders say the day, which is named after Christian martyr Saint Valentine, does not have much significance as it was deleted from the church's calendar of saints in 1969.
They say the day is more commonly associated with people expressing their love for each other by sending flowers and chocolates or exchanging greeting cards.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Car bomb injures eight in Thai south: police AFP - 59 minutes ago
Thailand to reject UN help over Cambodia: PM AFP - 1 hour 4 minutes ago
Taiwan's defence compromised by agent: ex-spy chief AFP - 1 hour 13 minutes ago
S.Korea detects fresh bird flu outbreaks AFP - 1 hour 49 minutes ago
Board games cafes offer web break in China AFP - 2 hours 18 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Airlift rescues abandoned LA chihuahuas
Greece slams 'unacceptable' EU-IMF asset sale call
Weber says he had 'minority' view on key issues
Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims
Erik Guay claims ski world downhill gold
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake
Russia loses military satellite: reports
US auto sales jump 17 percent in January
Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008
Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 13 February 2011 Egypt's army commits to civilian rule and treaties
Could smartphones go stupid?
Egypt investigates officials
Weber says he had 'minority' view on key issues
Suicide bomber kills 38, wounds dozens in Iraq
Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims
Protesters form council to defend Egypt revolution
Scores of bodies unearthed at Iraq grave site
Tehran will bar opposition rally
|
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
Suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims in Iraq
Witness: Unlike Iraq, Egyptians do regime change their way
|
Taliban targets police in Afghan city killing 19
Pakistan court orders arrest of ex-president Musharraf
Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede
|
Kremlin sees Japan island talks 'losing meaning'
Spacey, Moore tackle financial crisis at Berlin fest
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Justin Bieber leads Friday box office with $12.4 million
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
Canada's Ice Hotel warms hearts
Justin Bieber leads Friday box office with $12.4 million
|
Gabourey Sidibe says enough perfect, pretty films
|
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
|
Streisand honored for music and charity work
|
Egypt military vows democracy after Mubarak's fall
Swiss to vote on keeping army weapons at home
Thousands rally to demand Algerian leader quits
Pandora hopes IPO a path to profit
Greece slams 'unacceptable' EU-IMF asset sale call
Airlift rescues abandoned LA chihuahuas
Egypt military rulers under pressure from protesters
|
Police check 'mystery woman' in missing twins hunt
U.S. President Obama calls fellow leaders on Egypt
Bing search gaining ground on Google: comScore
Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede
|
Protestors blow whistle on Berlusconi premiership
Security main priority of Egyptian government
Tehran will bar opposition rally-agency
Witness
U.S. calls on Syria to release young blogger
Five Islamist gunmen dead in Philippine clash: army
China, US onlookers at cricket's big bash
Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day
New Zealand down fighting Ireland
Plus-sized athletes to US first lady: Fat can be fit
China's railway minister accused in graft probe
Julie Andrews, Ramones receive lifetime Grammys
Vast India census may help direct aid to poorest
Pictures and paintings to save Bucharest historic district
For Colombia growers, Valentine's coming up roses
Gabourey Sidibe says enough "perfect, pretty" films
Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead
Japan JPMorgan workers 'didn't declare $8.4 mln'
Tony Fernandes 'rejects' Lotus Formula One offer
India's Anil Ambani group says officials probed over 2G scam
Julie Andrews, Ramones receive lifetime Grammys
|
Egypt cabinet to stay for transition period
Swiss vote to keep army guns at home
EU, IMF 'regret' Greek furore over asset sale call
Egyptian army corrals protesters to reopen Tahrir
Russia's VTB bank sale to reap $3.25 billion: report
US postpones talks with Afghanistan, Pakistan
Yemeni police block protesters' march on palace
|
Death toll rises to 48 in Iraq suicide bombing
|
Death toll from Iraqi suicide attack rises to 33
Israeli cabinet approves new army chief
|
Palestinian PM confident of Egypt's future support
Italian women protest over Berlusconi sex scandal
|
Bangladeshi govt on food alert
Maliki fills power, trade and other Iraq cabinet jobs
|
PAD defies police order to clear out of roads
Iran pressures opposition ahead of planned rally
|
Sudanese women call for release of sons and protesters
|
Opinion: Shameful days
Nearly 1,000 Tunisian migrants reach Italy overnight
|
Tunisian foreign minister resigns: report
|
FBR collects $9 b in 7 months
Displaced villagers at Thai border return home
Cambodia to shun bilateral dialogue
Indonesian govt urges restraint over calls to ban Ahmadiyah
S.Korea firms win $2.5 bln order from Saudi
Pakistan former president's arrest warrant issued
Smartphone makers to woo developers in Barcelona
|
South Korea household debt rises in 2010
Nokia surrenders and enlists Microsoft in smartphone war
|
Thai CPN joint venture to open mall in China
Inequality growing in Pakistan due to corruption: CJ
China to vet foreign M&A deals 'for national security'
Eminem hoping to avoid another Grammys shocker
|
French animator brings 3D magic to Berlin festival
|
US Internet censorship fight falling short: report
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights