Iraqis paint Baghdad red on Valentine's Day despite tensions

Baghdad’s streets were awash with love-themed items on Valentine’s Day celebrations, which are globally marked on February 14th. Iraqis hope the celebrations with breath some hope in an atmosphere of gloom and terror.

Stalls were adorned with red teddy bears, love hearts and other representations of love to mark the occasion, seeming to defy deteriorating economic and security conditions that coincided with the Islamic State extremists reign of terror over many other cities and bloody strikes inside the capital, reports Iraqi News.

Abdel Kader, a florist in the district of Mansour said: “Despite the violence and all the problems that plague the country, we have the will and the determination to continue living our lives. Valentine’s Day is one of the occasions that beautify these days. And we have waited for this festival in Iraq for many years.”

On Monday, Islamic State barred wearing red-colored clothes in western Mosul, preparing to prevent Valentine’s Day celebrations, according to a local media source.

The group’s media surprisingly distributed warnings saying red colors were not allowed, even for children, said the source.The source further presumed the move was aimed to prevent Iraqis from marking the occasion, adding that the group fears that the least sign of celebration would stand as a challenge to its rules.

IMAGE Courtesy: The Times of Israel