Iran Cracks Down on Barbie dolls
The Iranian police has started a "new phase" to crack down stores that sell the banned U.S.made Barbie doll, according to news agency Mehr.
"Stores that are selling these dolls are committing an offense and the police will act against them," said an unnamed police official, according to the source.
Despite the action from authorities, Barbie dolls were being sold illegally in toy stores, according to reports. The dolls which are sold wearing swimsuits and miniskirts cause conflict in a society where women must wear head scarves in public, and men and women are not allowed to swim together, reports AP.
"Dozens of stores that have sold these Barbie dolls have been closed and that will continue," Mehr noted.
Iranian authorities have denounced that the influence of the Western culture is damaging its society and have responded by banning Coca-Cola, Western TV, movies, Internet sites Google, Facebook among others. Yet young people continue interested in the Western culture and the Associated Press reports that even channels of the Iranian Government broadcast several Western and Hollywood films every week.
