Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) chairman of education affairs, Anwar Abbas, on Saturday thanked a number of mayors across the archipelago for banning Valentine's Day celebrations.<>

“I thank the mayors of Surabaya, Padang, Makassar and Mataram, who have not recognized the celebrations for Valentine’s Day today,” Anwar said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He added that celebrations would only damage the character and morality of the younger generation.

“Young people have to be critical [about Valentine’s Day] and every celebration and culture which comes from the West; they are not always in line with our values,” he explained.

He said that every Indonesian, especially those of the younger generation, should be implementing the values of the nation’s ideology Pancasila in their lives.

“We hope that all elements of society support the decisions of these mayors,” he continued.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq