The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention
has volunteers, called the Matawa (religious police) who support the commission
and enforce Sharia Laws by keeping the sexes segregated, arrest unrelated females
and males caught mingling in public and making sure that stores comply with closures
during the prayer times. In relation to Valentine’s
Day, they canvass the neighborhood stores to make sure they are not selling paraphernalia
that is red or heart-shaped (i.e. roses, chocolates) that appears it could be
given to a “Sweetie”. So basically, everything related to Valentine’s
Day is banned. The consequences
for violating the rules is the store being shut down. So, about as close as I am going to get to
anything here that is red is my new purse!
Like anything, there is always a work around. Most Saudis
just travel away from this area and go to places such as Dubai to celebrate. So
to avoid my beliefs being imposed upon....I am on my way to Dubai for the weekend
too! Catch you there!
GMarie