See the world: Valentine’s Day in Iraq

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

World Now is launching a new feature we’re calling ‘See the world.’ Every day we’ll highlight a remarkable shot from somewhere in the world.

Today our photo comes from the Muslim holy city of Karbala, Iraq, where Shiite Muslim women in black abayas are shopping for Valentine’s Day.

Iraq has embraced Valentine’s Day this year, the Associated Press reports. Though conservative Muslims have frowned on the holiday as ‘an encouragement of perceived Western decadence and premarital sex’ -- the BBC reports it was banned in Uzbekistan this year -- it has nonetheless become popular in Dubai, Beirut and cities in Iraq.

Teddy bears, silken nighties and lip-shaped pillows are appearing in Baghdad storefronts.

Spot a photo that strikes you? Please tweet it to @latimesworld with the hashtag #see.

ALSO:

An affluent Syrian neighborhood turned into ‘barracks’

Bahraini protesters, police clash, fight through tear gas

Egyptian village expels Coptic families amid sectarian tensions

-- Emily Alpert in Los Angeles