Valentine's Day 'sinful' for Muslims: Aceh Islamic leader

Celebrating Valentine's Day is sinful and forbidden for Muslims, an Indonesian Islamic leader warned.

"This celebration comes from another religion and has no legal basis in the Islamic Sharia law," said Muslim Ibrahim, who is chairman of the highest authority on Islamic affairs in Aceh province.

"Therefore, taking part in celebrating the day of love is haram (forbidden) for Muslims," Ibrahim told the state Antara news agency.

St Valentine's Day is named after a Christian martyr and over the years has become the day on which lovers traditionally express their feelings for each other.

Ibrahim said Valentine's Day went against Islamic teachings and values and was used to overly express love to someone of the opposite sex.

"I hope that the young generation can be proud of our regional culture, which abounds with Islamic values, and can maintain their identity," Ibrahim said.

"I also call on parents to provide guidance to their young so that they do not take part in celebrating that day."

He said anyone still wishing to mark Valentine's Day on Wednesday in Aceh should do so in private.

Aceh is gradually implementing Islamic Sharia law under a broad autonomy package granted by the central government in 2001 to pacify demands for independence in the staunchly Muslim region.

It is the only province in Indonesia, the world's largest mainly Muslim nation, to be allowed to do so.