We could do with fashion police in Australia to arrest people who wear the following in public - thongs (flip flops) away from the beach, ugg boots, jeans or shorts that hang so low that underwear is showing, and back to front baseball caps.
Western style a veiled threat to Iran security Farhad Pouladi, Tehran July 25, 2007 Fashion police: An Iranian policewoman (right) speaks with a woman about her clothing and headscarf in Tehran.
Photo: AFPIRAN has launched a crackdown against women who "dress like models" and men whose hairstyles are deemed un-Islamic.
Tehran's police force dispatched dozens of police cars and minibuses into the evening rush hour yesterday to enforce the dress rules at major squares in the city centre.
The new "plan to increase security in society" comes after a pre-summer drive by the police resulted in thousands of warnings and hundreds of arrests.
"We have vowed to continue the campaign to reinforce the plan to increase security in society with new personnel who have received the necessary training," the Tehran police head of information, Mehdi Ahmadi, said.
He said that the campaign would target women who were badly veiled, wore overly tight overcoats, sported excessively short trousers and were "dressed like models".
"As far as men are concerned we will act against those who have Western-style haircuts and clothing. We are also going to act against clothes shops and hairdressers."
Mr Ahmadi said the policy will be to first give a verbal warning to those who infringe the law and, if necessary, they will then be arrested.
In Vanak Square in central Tehran, women were apprehended and escorted to a waiting minibus by female police. Other women were seen adjusting headscarves to cover loose hair.
Women in Iran are obliged to cover all bodily contours and their heads, but in recent years many have pushed the boundaries by showing bare ankles and fashionably styled hair beneath headscarves. Wacky hairdos, favoured by some young men in Tehran, are also widely seen.
By renewing the drive, it appears the police want to send a message that they are serious about enforcing the dress rules.
Many conservatives have applauded the crackdown, but moderates have questioned whether Iran would be better off tackling poverty and crime rather than slack dressing.
AFP
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I need to pack soon for the weekend in Melbourne starting tomorrow for the football. I'm also going to Brisbane afterwards, so my blog is taking a break.
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