Taliban Bans Afghans From Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Afghanistan

Several Afghan citizens told Afghanistan International and have reported on social media that Taliban has banned celebration of Valentine's Day. The Taliban ministry of promotion of virtue and prevention of vice have asked the public in Kabul not to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

One and a half years after the Taliban’s return to power, celebrating Valentine’s Day, like some other occasions, has become a dream in Afghanistan.

During the era of republic Afghanistan, the shopping malls in Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan had been selling gifts for Valentine's Day, and young men and women bought flowers, sweets and gifts for their loved ones.

Last year and on the first Valentine's day after the Taliban’s return to power, the group did not show much opposition to buying gifts and celebration of the day.

However, this year, reports from Kabul indicate that the Taliban members have put in place heavy presence of the group’s fighters across the city and have warned the public not to celebrate Valentine’s Day.