By Mohd Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: Students Islamic organization (SIO) of India has observed February 14 as chastity day in Hyderabad. Many other Muslim organizations and Ulema within the city have appealed to the youth to keep away from un-Islamic rituals, and come out strongly against such celebrations.
Beyond religious boundaries SIO campaigned on the menace of blindly following western culture which in turn alienates our own Indian culture. The SIO cadres assembled near the educational institutions at Mehdipatnam, Dilsukhnagar, Himayatnagar and Khairtabad displaying placards against the valentine’s celebration and also distributed handbills explaining the Islamic position on Haya (modesty).
Girls’ Islamic organization [GIO] too had taken up counseling of young girls as soon as they found them with the boys indulging in immoral activities. GIO members visited parks, bus stops and some education institutions and on finding Muslim girls who engaged in un-Islamic activities, they advised and consoled them regarding the back drops of indulging in activities which is completely against the chastity of women.
Many Muslim Ulema in the city gave sermons to create awareness within the community on this issue. Urdu news papers in the city were containing numerous statements from Ulema and many other Muslim organizations severely denouncing the practice of ‘youme-aashiqaan’ (Valentine’s Day). According to them it is equal to crime against women folk, rise in illicit relationships and many other social evils. Parents were asked to keep a tab on their children on the eve of valentine’s day.