A Kashmiri Muslim women’s group raided restaurants on Thursday to prevent young Muslim couples from meeting on Valentine’s Day, an event it denounced as “anti-Islamic”.“We have formed a number of squads to educate young couples that Valentine’s Day is a Western conspiracy to involve Muslims in vulgar activities,” said Nahida, a member of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or Daughters of Faith, as she took part in a swoop on a restaurant in Srinagar. The women’s group, all covered from head-to-toe, did not encounter any resistance as couples patiently listened to them and left restaurants.
Nahida said such “peaceful raids” were being conducted across Srinagar. “Thanks to Allah, no one sold Valentine’s Day cards in Srinagar this year,” she said.
Last year dozens of activists marched through Srinagar and burnt Valentine’s Day cards. “As long as everything passes off peacefully we will not intervene, but if they (women activists) use force, we will act,” said police officer Pervez Ahmed.