This just in: Valentine’s Day is not the favorite holiday of the Saudi Police.

“Those who don’t comply, will be punished,” was the blunt period Saudi state police officials, known locally as the Muttawa, put to a statement banning any celebration of romance in their country last weekend.

According to the Associated Press, the Muttawa — in step with the Wahabi school of Islam, and in keeping with that culture’s determination to separate itself from Western traditions and other religions — banned all things related to Valentine’s Day, including, but not limited to, the color red, heart candy, roses or even teddy bears.

Ironically, approximately 1,700 years ago, another government that cared little for romance or its frills, moved to stifle soldiers’ desires for marriage and keep them always ready for war. Saint Valentine, a priest at that time, did not let this totalitarian road block, established by Roman Emperor Claudius, stop him. Valentine was courageous enough to conduct marriage ceremonies in secret for the soldiers. He was later imprisoned, and eventually martyred for his faith.

Although the Muttawa are not against marriage, their recent ban illustrates an undeniable and unapologetic restriction of freedom. Nonetheless, Saudi citizens still found ways around the ban. In fact, Ahmed Al-Omran, a well-known Saudi blogger, according to The Los Angeles Times, said Westerners are taking the prohibition much more seriously than the Saudis. Indeed, prior to last week’s announcement, many Saudis were stocking up on holiday accessories and making plans to celebrate the holiday of “love” this past weekend.

That many Saudis are indifferent to such a ban from their government is understandable, of course. Can Saudi citizens be anything but numb to political, social, and moral duplicity while living under such unrelenting regulation of every aspect of their daily life?

A friend of mine — a former ASU student from Saudi Arabia — was among those partaking in the festivities this weekend in the eastern province. When I asked her about her views on the ban, she said Wahabis have always banned Valentine’s Day due to a specific interpretation of Islamic law, but that she ultimately believes “it’s not right for them to choose for people.”

She’s correct, people should have the right to choose if they want to celebrate holidays. Interestingly, many news stories published about this Valentine’s roadblock shared a tendency to guard the identity of the Saudis they interviewed whose beliefs run counter to the Muttawa law. Why? Because, as the statement said, “If you don’t comply, you will be punished.”

Free societies are not perfect, but at least silence is not mandated, and you can whisper, speak up, or scream about what’s wrong without being punished.

Given the price St. Valentine paid for the cause of true love, here’s to the Saudis who, although saddled with many edicts, rules, and restrictions, didn’t let the religious police crush their Valentine’s.

Reach Catherine at catherine.e.smith@asu.edu