East Java Kids Face An Anti-Valentine Diktat!

Haram!

We have not seen so many news reports of anti-Valentine hysteria in Indonesia this year, although there has been one classic, already noted…

and while maybe an encouraging sign, that deprives me of good raw material like those last year…

Anti-Valentine Raids On Java Bed-Sits? : 

 

…or in the years before that.

Sumatra Goon-Squad ‘Monitors’ Valentine Vice! 

   

–Jakarta SWALK Horror! Valentines “Could Lead To Kisses…!” 

However, here’s one more example that popped up a few days ago!

The latest anti-Valentine jackboot bigotry, NOT by the MUI fanatics this time, but, incredibly, according to Eramuslim news page, by the Department of Education and Culture in Bondowoso Regency, East Java!

These sticky-beak bureaucrats are not content to issue a diktat for the educational property that comes within their sphere of authority –

“We have sent a circular letter to the school to ban students not to celebrate valentine day that is not our culture,” said Head of Education and Culture of Bondowoso, Endang Hardiyanti in Bondowoso

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According to Endang, the celebration of “Valentine Day” tends to lead to negative things that are not in accordance with religious norms and Eastern culture, so it’s reasonable if the next generation of the nation is empowered not to the day of love.

Part of what she says is true, clearly. Valentines would be as unknown in Indonesia as other cultural imports, e.g. Mickey Mouse and jazz, were it not for Western influence.

Are the two latter phenomena also to be outlawed because of her chauvinistic prejudice? Do Mickey, and jazz, also lead to ‘negative things?’

One assumes not. One sadly assumes that the animosity towards Valentines is motivated by the perceived like between the celebration and normal affection between boys and girls.

Indonesia – Deadly Invasion by PDA! 

We know the sort of nasty infantile hang-ups some people have about the PDA threat!

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But that reference to religion is downright sinister.

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Endang goes on to rant that Valentine’s Day is very contrary to our religion, so we need to fortify the students to not be affected by negative culture.”

I thought Indonesia was a pluralist country!

She’s a Muslim, but the Provincial Department she’s meant to serve is itself meant to serve ALL children in East Java, regardless of religion.

Her sectarian outlook is deplorable, but she seems not even to confine her Islamist intimidation to the schools.

Endang has issued a circular.

“The school should inform the parents of the students about the ban, either by mail, or through meetings.”  

Dikbud Bondowoso Larang Siswa Rayakan Valentine Day

What’s not clear is whether she’s trying to expand her intolerance beyond the school-yard to the unfortunate students’ homes…

…or if perhaps, in a last-minute glimmer of rationality, she aims to give parents the opportunity to challenge her dictatorial decree.

Eramuslim doesn’t pursue this question, but I tend to fear the former explanation is more likely!

 

Late Start For Indonesia’s Valentine Kill-Joys!

Heck, I’ve been waiting for the past week for the annual kill-joy chorus.

Since the most fanatical elements in Indonesia are pre-occupied with the prosecution of Jakarta’s Governor Ahok for daring to quote a Koranic verse on the campaign trail…

“We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible…”.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

‘All you need is love, tra-la-la!’

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…I had begun to think they’d not got the time and/or energy to pick on kids who like the harmless fun of St.Valentine’s Day.

We had a jolly post last year, about attempts to provide a substitute for the scary ‘day of love…’

-extract below-

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Tolak (Reject) Valentine’s Day

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Boring!

Hari Menutup Aurat International?

Literal translation  – ‘International Day for Covering Aurat.’

Aurat? 

A matter of interpretation.

But Google Translate often gives it as ‘private parts’ – yet what normal, sane people regard as private parts has little to do with it, though no regrets for the fun afforded me when I wrote about “No Guarantees On Miss World’s Private Parts!” MUI 

Another common Google Translate offering is ‘genitals!’ Most of us would be taken aback if genitalia were on display, but that’s uncommon, to say the least, except in the smallest minds to be found in the archipelago.

Genitals?…‘Scholars’ on Scarfs – ‘Must Be Shariah-Compliant, Hide Genitals, Show No Curves!’  .

We can review what’s a private part in a moment, but first let me remind you – aurat is a sexist concept, a form of subjugation imposed by men, usually old but often younger fogeys too.

The poster below, which needs to be widely circulated, makes the sexism absolutely clear.

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Addressed to ayah dan suami, fathers and husbands, you can see what’s  forbidden in the lists on either side of Michelin Maid.

Then, at the bottom, it offensively tells the afore-mentioned gents that –

‘Their Aurat is Your Responsibility.’

In other words, inspect your women before you allow them out!

But you men can go bare-headed, flaunt your knees, etc…

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THAT was last year…or the year before, or the year before that…hard to keep track of the recurrent ranting.

February 14th – ‘International Hide-The-Yummy-Bits Day!’ 

oooooooooooooo

oooooooooooooo

But back to this year. 

West Java’s extremism rarely fails to appal (please use our ‘search’ facility) and sure enough, here’s the news from that sad Indonesian province.

West Java Education Agency head Ahmad Hadadi signed the letter on the ban on Friday.

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Hadadi

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“[The administration] bans students from commemorating Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2017 at school or outside school,” he said… 

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/12/west-java-students-not-allowed-to-celebrate-valentines-day.html

Undoubtedly, no matter how outlandish the reasons…

…the ban was part of the government’s efforts to build good moral character in students and prevent them from engaging in activities that contravened religious, social and cultural norms…

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…West Java can issue such coercive diktats to the youngsters when they’re on school premises.

But OUTSIDE?

When they’re walking round town with pals after school, sitting having an iced tea in a cafe…

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• …in their own homes or those of their young friends?

SAD STUFF!

And, as one critic is quoted as saying, unenforceable.

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 Is this forbidden too?

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