[Xinhua] Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) warned Muslims not to celebrate Valentine's Day here Wednesday, saying it's not in accordance with Islamic values.MUI's Chairman Umaar Shinhab told Indonesia's news portal Tempo.co that it's forbidden for Muslims to observe the "day of love" which falls on February 14 as the celebration involves religious ritual and is prone to lead to "free sex". "Love can be expressed or shown any time without bounded by a certain day," Shinhab said, adding that the young should follow the right religious teachings so as not to be affected by deviant culture.
The deputy mayor of Depok has appealed Tuesday residents, especially younger people not to celebrate Valentine's Day on Thursday.
In recent years, it has become customary for MUI, the highest Islamic authority in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, to issue edicts resisting Valentine's Day celebration.
Edicts issued by the MUI are generally considered as a form of public guidance and carry no legal authority.