Apparently Iran is tackling a major cause for concern among those intent on protecting public morals; the sale of Barbie dolls. Since I am male I inquired of my wife why they'd be a problem for Iran. She pointed out that the face was uncovered. That would, of cause, be a serious cause for concern for any right-thinking person.
So I did a bit of research and found an article (excerpts below, link) which explained the problem and why the Iranian government needs to prioritize an immediate solution.
Iran steps up its ban on Barbie dolls
Tue, Jan 17, 2012
TEHRAN Irans morality police are cracking down on the sale of Barbie dolls to protect the public from what they see as pernicious western culture eroding Islamic values, shopkeepers said on Monday.
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Irans religious rulers first declared Barbie, made by US company Mattel Inc, unIslamic in 1996, citing its destructive cultural and social consequences. Despite the ban, the doll has until recently been openly on sale in Tehran shops.
The new order, issued around three weeks ago, forced shopkeepers to hide the leggy, busty blonde behind other toys as a way of meeting popular demand for the dolls while avoiding being closed down by the police.
A range of officially approved dolls launched in 2002 to counter demand for Barbie have not proven successful, merchants told Reuters.
The dolls named Sara, a female, and Dara, a male, arrived in shops wearing a variety of traditional dress, with Sara fully respecting the rule that all women in Iran must obey in public, of covering their hair and wearing loose-fitting clothes.
My daughter prefers Barbies, said Farnaz (38). She says Sara and Dara are ugly and fat.
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Pointing to a doll covered in black long veil, a Tehran toy shop manager (40) said: We still sell Barbies but secretly and put these in the window to make the police think we are just selling these kinds of dolls.In other salutory news coming from Iran (link), "(t)he Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Canadian charge d'affaires on Tuesday to express Tehran's concern about the violation of the rights of the indigenous people of Canada.
Iran's nascent Islamic Republic is really coming along.
So I did a bit of research and found an article (excerpts below, link) which explained the problem and why the Iranian government needs to prioritize an immediate solution.
Iran steps up its ban on Barbie dolls
Tue, Jan 17, 2012
TEHRAN Irans morality police are cracking down on the sale of Barbie dolls to protect the public from what they see as pernicious western culture eroding Islamic values, shopkeepers said on Monday.
**************
Irans religious rulers first declared Barbie, made by US company Mattel Inc, unIslamic in 1996, citing its destructive cultural and social consequences. Despite the ban, the doll has until recently been openly on sale in Tehran shops.
The new order, issued around three weeks ago, forced shopkeepers to hide the leggy, busty blonde behind other toys as a way of meeting popular demand for the dolls while avoiding being closed down by the police.
A range of officially approved dolls launched in 2002 to counter demand for Barbie have not proven successful, merchants told Reuters.
The dolls named Sara, a female, and Dara, a male, arrived in shops wearing a variety of traditional dress, with Sara fully respecting the rule that all women in Iran must obey in public, of covering their hair and wearing loose-fitting clothes.
My daughter prefers Barbies, said Farnaz (38). She says Sara and Dara are ugly and fat.
************
Pointing to a doll covered in black long veil, a Tehran toy shop manager (40) said: We still sell Barbies but secretly and put these in the window to make the police think we are just selling these kinds of dolls.
Iran's nascent Islamic Republic is really coming along.
