PEKANBARU STUDENTS REJECT VALENTINE DAY CELEBRATION

Jakarta Forum - Pekanbaru, Riau, More than one hundred students from various schools grouped in the Islamic Students of Pekanbaru rallied against the celebration of Valentine Day here on Saturday.

The students conducted the rally after school hours by parading which ended at the Radio Republic Indonesia station on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman.

Along the way they callled on Moslems in particular the younger generation in Riau not to participate in the celebration because the tradition is against the Islamic teachings.

"The Velentine tradition is not found in the Islamic teachings and therefore we as Islamic students call on all Moslems not to participate in the celebration," Hasan Ikhlas said in his oration.

He said the celebration tended to lead to free-sex behavior not recognized in Islam.

"Moslems must not be provoked by the celebration because according to history the day is the time for offering to gods after men and women conduct a free-sex party," he said.

Irsan who spoke at the oration at the Radio Republic Indonesia station, which was also reported by the state radio also called on mass media not to report the celebration massively.

"We hope mass media both electronic and print would not blow it up as it would affect the faith of the younger Islamic generation in the country," he said.

After conducting orations the students dispersed orderly under police guard.

Source: Antara News