Crackdown on Iran's pro-US youth.
On or off Iran ping
Posted on 06/21/2004 5:28:11 PM PDT by freedom44
TEHRAN -- Iran's feared morals police will launch a summer crackdown on Western-style coffee shops and women who flout Islamic dress codes, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
Tehran's prosecutor announced last month that a campaign against "social corruption" was under way and Tehranis have complained about an increase in raids on parties.
"As summer aproaches, we have decided to confront corruption at cultural and sports centres, video clubs, and coffee shops...that fail to observe the regulations," Tehran Police Chief Morteza Talaei was quoted as saying in the reformist Tosea newspaper.
Enforcement of strict rules on women's dress, Western music and mixed sex gatherings has eased since reformist President Mohammad Khatami came to power in 1997.
However, young women who wear figure-hugging coats and revealing headscarves risk fines, jail and even lashes.
Iranian women are meant to disguise the shape of their bodies in long, loose clothing and entirely cover their hair.
Islamic conservatives won a sweeping parliamentary victory in February after thousands of liberal candidates were barred from standing by a hardline watchdog.
Conservative MP Mohammad Reza Bahonar approved of police efforts but warned against taking a tough line.
"I hope that the drive to respect values and the prevention of improper behaviour is pursued without resorting to extreme measures," he told Hambastegi newspaper.
Although boys and girls are officially banned from socialising with unrelated members of the opposite sex, bored teenagers pack into brightly lit eateries and coffee shops to flirt over a burger or a coke.
Sociologists said the crackdown would be counterproductive in a state where 70 percent of people are under 30.
"It is impossible to challenge young people, because they will react negatively in order to counter such measures," sociologist Amanollah Qaraei told Hambastegi.
I can't stand those guys.
I just knew that "Casual Fridays" would lead to a slippery slope.
So I guess the t-shirts with "I'm With Stupid" under a picture of Ayatollah Khamenei are out?
Uh.....dumb move by the mad mullahs.
Revealing head scarves, you mean we can't wet them down so we can see their ear lobes?
Figure-hugging coats! Oh, the horror!
Ok, who has the pic of the long legged gal with a burka crossing the street during a wind storm.
Nice try. I can see that you are the type of person the wardrobe police would be after. I bet you would even sanction wet head scarf contests. You probably would even condone ear piercings!
Now. Look veeerrry carefully at the picture in post #4.
The woman's earlobes are in plain view! Not only that, look at her fingernail polish. I'm aghast at how nail polish could have gotten through customs.
After looking at some of those Iranian women, I've really got to agree with the government on this one.
Yeah, black roots and all and isn't that a wedding ring on her left hand?
Oh, man, they're really gonna get scorched if they wear thigh-high boots, a leather bustier and a copper breastplate.
They look nice enough but I would really prefer to wear a turtleneck.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.