Taliban Administration Reaffirms Ban on Valentine’s Day Celebrations
Mullah Saif-ur-Rahman Khaiber, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has once again emphasized the prohibition on celebrating Valentine’s Day. He stated that the growing popularity of Valentine’s Day among Afghan youth over the past two decades is “regrettable” and incompatible with religious and moral values.
Referring to some young people’s observance of the day, he said that, in his view, they celebrate it without understanding its cultural and religious background. According to him, Valentine’s Day is “an imitation of the West” and a product of a weak moral environment. He argued that designating a specific day to express love and affection does not accurately reflect human values.
The ministry spokesperson added that love, ethics, and human dignity should be present throughout a person’s life, not confined to just one special day.
In previous years, the Taliban administration has also imposed restrictions on public celebrations of Valentine’s Day, prohibiting the sale or purchase of flowers, gifts, and other related items in public areas. This action is part of the broader policy framework aimed at controlling social and cultural occasions.
In contrast, some cultural analysts view the designation of special days to commemorate social concepts as an accepted custom in many societies, emphasizing that citizens should have the freedom to choose and celebrate occasions they desire.
The Taliban administration has previously banned celebrations of other events, including Nowruz, which has drawn critical reactions from parts of the community.
