The ever vigilant Saudi Religious Police have put all of the florist shops on notice in the Kingdom. All red items including red roses are banned for the week because of Valentines Day. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice’ in Saudi Arabia is trying to discourage and outlaw any outward signs of the ‘Western’ celebration in their country which it sees as encouraging illegal relationships between men and women outside of marriage.
In their society it is illegal for an unmarried woman to be in the company of men who are not her relatives.