Young people in Iran celebrate Valentine’s Day despite ban

Even under the pressure of sanctions, economic difficulties and threat of military attack, love continues to burn hot and glow deep for Iranian youth, who, like their Western counterparts, exchange chocolates and flowers on Feb. 14.

Despite the government’s decision to ban Valentine’s Day gifts — in a bid to discourage the spread of “Western” culture — love is still in the air this Valentine’s day in the Islamic state.

The authorities said that they would take legal action against those who ignore this ban.

Gifts are stacked up in special Valentine’s baskets and on the shelves of local stalls with heart-shaped toys dominating the shop windows in central Tehran.

“It (Valentine’s) is very important for Iran’s youth in the sense that they are looking for an excuse to prove their love to one-another. Valentine’s day is an international day, which has found its place in Iran over the past few years. It has been five or six years that our youth are doing this: buying toys and chocolates for their loved ones,” said shop-keeper Sadegh Saberi.

With Valentine’s day is becoming increasingly popular over the past years, Iran’s youth are less and less afraid of getting arrested for flouting the ban.

“I don’t know the exact number but I think all girls and boys who are actually young and they have boyfriends or they want to show their affection to somebody else, they celebrate this day,” said English teacher, Samira Shirazi.

Valentine’s Day has become a money-maker for businesses in a country which is facing economic hardship due to sanctions over its disputed nuclear program.
Some restaurants in affluent northern Tehran — who want to attract more customers — have arranged dinners catered for lovers, and are offering a change of menu, live music and even fire works, according to a waitress at an Asian restaurant.

Some cake shops have even baked and placed on offer a variety of heart-shaped products.
         
“I think it (Valentine’s day) will be welcomed even more so in the future. I am saying this based on my own experience. Because they are certain things that people can’t do routinely — due to economic pressures — at least what they can do is save the money that they have for the annual occasions, like gifts for Valentine’s,” said chef patissier at Delight Pastry, Golshan.

Commenting on the ban on Valentine’s-centric products, Golshan added: “I know that this year morality police will be inspecting shops that offer Valentine’s-related products and will hassle and penalize them. So the law is there, but I see that all shops are still doing it.”

For the conservatives, western music, movies and television are seen as part of a deliberate “soft war” waged by the West to corrupt Iran’s youth.

But access to the Internet and illegal satellite television mean western culture is popular among young Iranians who have no memory of the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

Some nationalists have suggested replacing Valentine’s Day with “Mehregan”, an Iranian festival celebrated since the pre-Islamic era. Mehr means friendship, affection or love.

This year’s Valentine’s day in the Islamic Republic coincides with the revival of the pro-reformist demonstrations, which on Feb. 14, 2011 brought thousands to the streets of Iran.