Iran prescribes hairdos for men

Tehran, July 7

An Iranian fashion organisation has issued a new list of culturally appropriate haircuts for men, possibly indicating a new crackdown on male attire after years of strict rules for women, Iranian media reported.

Although the Ministry of Culture has yet to officially adopt the styles presented by the Veil and Modesty Festival, the private organisation said approval is pending. It would be the first such rules for men’s hair styles since 1979 Islamic revolution.

“We introduced the hairstyles to the Culture Ministry,” said Jaleh Khodayar, head of the group, telling Iranian newspapers on Tuesday that it had been approved informally and an official statement would soon be made.

The new hairstyles are aimed at confronting the “Western cultural invasion,” according to Khodayar, by promoting cuts based on the “law and culture” of the Iranian society.

Khodayar said female hair styles will be introduced in future and the styles would be featured in foreign exhibitions in hopes of spreading them to other Muslim countries. — AP