Working In Saudi ? Sweetheart In Thailand ?

[taxexile]

Saudis ban red roses for Valentine's Day

By Sally Peck

Last Updated: 3:54pm GMT 12/02/2008

Saudi Arabia's religious police have banned the sale of red roses ahead of Valentine's Day.

Crimson items - from roses to wrapping paper - have been banned from the shelves of florists and gift shops in Riyadh until Friday by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Every year officials visit florists a few days before Feb 14 to issue warnings on red items, which are widely seen as symbols of love, according to local newspapers.

The Commission raids shops on the eve of Valentine's Day, which it sees as an encouragement of relations outside of wedlock, to ensure that the ban is being carried out.

According to the Saudi Gazette, the ban has resulted in a blossoming black market for red roses. One man, who claimed to run an underground flower shop out of his flat, said he could make as much as SAR20-30 (£2.70- £4) per rose, when the normal price is SAR5-7 (68p - £1).

He told the paper that he sometimes delivers bouquets in the middle of the night to avoid prying eyes, and that his loyal customers place orders weeks before the Feb 14 holiday.

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Relationships outside marriage are strictly prohibited in the conservative Muslim state and are punishable by law.

"As Muslims we shouldn't celebrate a non-Muslim celebration especially this one that encourages immoral relations between unmarried men and women," Sheikh Khaled al-Dossari , a scholar in Islamic Studies and sharia law, told the paper.

However, there is some hope for hopeless romantics. This year Valentine's Day coincides with mid-term break, so many Saudis have already left the kingdom on holiday.

The ban came into force in Riyadh on Sunday and red items remain forbidden until after February 14.

daily telegraph. 13/02/08.

[PhilHarries]

What a wonderful enlightened country. No drink, no luurrrve and no eye candy on the streets. Lucky for them they got oil otherwise nobody would p1ss on them if they were on fire.

[Naam]

Working In Saudi ? Sweetheart In Thailand ? You wont be seeing red on valentines day then.

that's terrible! suicides galore in Saudi Arabia tomorrow?

[donna]

in thailand pink is the colour of love, so that wouldnt be so much of a problem.

who needs just one day to tell their sweetheart that they love them. bah humbug.

[seonai]

Have to say I agree Donna, why put extra pressure on couples when there are already Birthdays, Xmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day ........................

[garro]

This reminds me of an incident that occurred while I was in Saudi. One of the male nurses needed to get drug keys. One of the other female nurses had the keys in her pocket but was unable to remove them as she was sterile and gloved-up. She told the male nurse to take them out of her pocket. Within half an hour they were both called to an administrators office. They were seen by one of the religious police who was visiting a patient. They both received written warnings for 'trying to make love' on the ward.

[Naam]

who needs just one day to tell their sweetheart that they love them. bah humbug.

BINGO !

[slapout]

Who ever came up with the charge of 'trying to make love' must not have had too much experience in this field.

[taxexile]

They were seen by one of the religious police

she was "fingered by the fuzz" !!

[mr_hippo]

Another non-story. Quote from the BBC item "The Saudi Gazette reported that some people placed orders with florists days or weeks before Valentine's Day in anticipation of the ban, which is a regular occurrence."

Correct me if I am wrong but Valentine's Day is only once a year and if it is, as the BBC say 'a regular occurrence' it must have been going on for years.

Link - Saudi roses

[Naam]

Another non-story. Quote from the BBC item "The Saudi Gazette reported that some people placed orders with florists days or weeks before Valentine's Day in anticipation of the ban, which is a regular occurrence."

Correct me if I am wrong but Valentine's Day is only once a year and if it is, as the BBC say 'a regular occurrence' it must have been going on for years.

it has indeed been going on for years and worse things happened in Mumbai, India a couple of years ago when ultra-conservative Hindus stormed shops selling Valentine cards.

[GuestHouse]

Lest we forget - It is only a couple of years since members of the Thai government where criticizing Valentines on the basis that it might lead to young people having sex. And not just Valentines, but also a number of seemingly innocent expressions of youth culture - spaghetti straps, short skirts ......

The difference then seems to be one of degree, and I have no doubt that given the authority to do so, Thai politicians and keepers of the public moral would be instructing everyone in Thailand how to behave.

Writing from inside Saudi, I can assure you that in many many other respects the Saudis are very much like the Thais, the Brits the Yanks. There are on the whole some very pleasent and likable people here. (Not many bogie men)

no eye candy on the streets.

LOL - You need to come and see some of the flirting going on.

[Lourens]

Also from Saudi: As GuestHouse says, some very pleasent and likable people here. Bottom line is, if you don't like the way these people opperate, then get out. Nobody forced anybody to be here. Stick to the law no matter where you are.

Very much agrees with "who needs just one day to tell their sweetheart that they love them."

[mr_hippo]

No drink, no luurrrve and no eye candy on the streets.

Everything is available if you know where to look

[t.s]

Lest we forget - It is only a couple of years since members of the Thai government where criticizing Valentines on the basis that it might lead to young people having sex. And not just Valentines, but also a number of seemingly innocent expressions of youth culture - spaghetti straps, short skirts ......

The difference then seems to be one of degree, and I have no doubt that given the authority to do so, Thai politicians and keepers of the public moral would be instructing everyone in Thailand how to behave.

Writing from inside Saudi, I can assure you that in many many other respects the Saudis are very much like the Thais, the Brits the Yanks. There are on the whole some very pleasent and likable people here. (Not many bogie men)

no eye candy on the streets.

LOL - You need to come and see some of the flirting going on.

the thai govt are still restricting movement of youths on valentines day.

it would be a good night to rob a bank as all the police will be trying to keep university students out of secluded parks and short time motels.

government sanctioned c*ck block

[kankaroo]

The world is INSANE !

:D

[Phil Conners]

What a wonderful enlightened country. No drink, no luurrrve and no eye candy on the streets. Lucky for them they got oil otherwise nobody would p1ss on them if they were on fire.

HAH, good one!