On February 14, it was reported that Taliban inspectors blocked trade and decoration related to Valentine's Day in Kabul and Herat. In particular, it is said that in Herat, some flower shops have signs stating "Valentine is forbidden" on their doors, and in Kabul, sellers have been warned not to sell red roses, greeting cards, and red decorations.
Representatives of the Taliban administration consider this holiday a custom that "does not correspond to Islamic values." In particular, a representative of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Evil called Valentine's Day a "moral decline" and saw it as an imitation of the West.
The official procedure and punishment mechanism for violators have not yet been explicitly stated. Nevertheless, observers note that such restrictions primarily increase the pressure on "symbolic" festive traditions among retail outlets and young people: that is, not the holiday itself, but its attributes are being targeted.
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