No Valentine for Afghans - 22nd February 2023

In Afghanistan, the Taliban made a new rule. People can't celebrate Valentine's Day. Florists can't sell flowers. And people can't buy balloons. In the big cities, some people celebrate the day. But the authorities stopped them.

The Taliban gave posters to every shop. The posters have a message. Valentine's Day isn't Islamic. It's not Afghan culture.

Now, people can't buy flowers or balloons. Omar can't sell his flowers.

Omar: "The market for people buying flowers is no good and also you know that people are not allowed to buy them. The Taliban aren't allowing people to buy flowers."

Officers walked around the flower market. They watched shoppers. They stopped people buying gifts. Valentine's Day is important to Zahrah. She's sad about the new rule.

Zahrah: "Because I have a marriage of love, we celebrate this day every year. It is important for me."

Zahrah celebrated Valentine's Day at home with her husband.

Zahrah: "The situation has changed. We can't celebrate it like other years. But we still celebrate it. There are some restrictions, but we celebrate it at home."

The Taliban made many new rules. They stopped people from doing many things. There are strict rules about music and social media. They stopped women from going to school or work too.