Het is goed dat jij niet in SA woont Nadia, want alleen om het feit dat je deze post in het rood geschreven hebt, had je op zijn minst 50 stokslagen gekost.
Het verhaal wordt gekker.. Alles wat rood is wordt nu tot na Valentijnsdag verboden in SA. Van rode rozen, rood pakpapier en dozen, tot rode beertjes.
Maar, de mensen in SA laten zich niet uit het veld slaan, en vieren in het geniep toch valentijnsdag. heartbeat:
Zo zitten mensen nou eenmaal in elkaar.. Alles wat niet mag is dubbel leuk als het stiekem gebeurd.
BRON!!!!!!!!
Agents of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice visited flower and gift shops in the capital Saturday night to instruct them to remove all red items - from red roses and wrapping paper to boxes and teddy bears - from their shelves, shop workers told the Saudi Gazette.
"They visited us last night," said a couple of florists Sunday morning.
"They gave us warnings and this morning we packed up all the red items and displays."
The florists asked not to be identified.
Sunday was the last day people could buy red roses in Riyadh, until Valentine's Day on Feb. 14 passes.
Every year, Commission agents visit flower shops a couple of days before Feb. 14 to issue warnings. On the eve of Valentine's Day, they start their raids and confiscate any red items that are symbols of love, florists here said.
But as a result of the ban, there's a black market in red roses.
"A single rose costs around SR5-7 but today the same rose costs SR10 a piece and the price will go up to SR20-30 on Valentine's Day," said a florist who caters to customers on Valentine's Day from his apartment.
Loyal customers place orders with the florist days and sometimes weeks before Feb. 14. "Sometimes we deliver the bouquets in the middle of the night or early morning, to avoid suspicion," said the florist.
Islamic scholars around the Kingdom such as Sheikh Khaled Al-Dossari preach that celebrating Valentine's Day and other non-Islamic celebrations is a sin. "As Muslims we shouldn't celebrate a non-Muslim celebration especially this one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women," Dossari, a scholar in Islamic Studies and the Shariah, said.
However, many young hearts are planning to celebrate in their own way, whether in secret, abroad or on the Web.
"I send e-cards to all my special friends online," said Famita Hakeem, a young Saudi university student.
"We are planning on going to Dubai Wednesday night to celebrate Valentine's Day as a couple," said Hannan Radi, a Saudi wife and teacher.
With Valentine's Day coinciding with the mid-term break, some Saudis have already left the Kingdom. With Bahrain so close to Al-Khobar, many Saudis who cannot travel further are planning on driving to Manama this weekend.
"I expect the bridge to be packed full," said Mahmood Naseeb, a Khobar resident.
"This happens every year on Valentine's Day but this year it might be worse because many people are on vacation."
