KARACHI -- With the elite and most of the media busy with Valentine Day activities, several student and women organizations are preparing Youm-e-Haya (Modesty Day) in educational institutions and streets across the country on the same day.
"So-called festivals like Valentine Day are sequel of a calculated campaign aimed at culturally invading our society in the name of moderation," Syed Abdul Rasheed, President of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), the country’s largest student group, told IslamOnline.net.
"Neither Islam nor our society have any connection whatsoever with such kind of economically-motivated festivals."
Valentine Day, which falls on February 14, is named after a Christian martyr and over the years has become the day on which lovers traditionally express their feelings for each other.
Though it is not celebrated openly in Pakistan, special programs are arranged by five-star hotels and multinational companies.
Some newspapers and TV channels offer message sending facilities to woo youths to send their greetings to loved ones.
Valentine Day activities, including sale of flowers and gifts, are witnessed mostly in posh localities of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
"These kinds of festivals, which are meant for capital society, has nothing to do with Islam. We want to prevent our youths from falling prey into the hands of this capitalist thinking," said Abdul Rasheed.
Peaceful Alternative
IJT, which has strong roots in educational institutions nationwide, is offering an alternative to the people, especially youths, this year.
"We will celebrate this day as Youm-e-Haya as modesty is one of the fundamental tenets of Islam," said Abdul Rasheed.
http://newageislam.com/haya-counters-valentine-in-pakistan/islamic-world-news/d/2461
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9:22 PM
Moderate Islamist here
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