Tehran: An Iranian fashion organisation has issued a new list of culturally appropriate haircuts for men, which could indicate a new crackdown on male attire in Iran, after years of strict rules for women.
Although the Ministry of Culture has yet to officially adopt the styles presented by the Veil and Modesty Festival, the private group said approval is pending. It would be the first such rule for men since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
"We introduced the hairstyles to the Culture Ministry," Jaleh Khodayar, Head of the group told Iranian newspapers on Tuesday, adding that they had been approved informally and an official statement would soon be made.
The new rules are aimed at confronting the "Western cultural invasion," according to Khodayar, by promoting cuts based on the "law and culture" of Iranian society.
The group says the styles will be modified for Iran's provinces based on regional culture and the clean-shaven models displayed in barber shops for visibility.
Female hair styles are also likely to be introduced in future and the styles would be featured in foreign exhibitions in the hope of spreading them to other Muslim countries.
Many trendy young Iranian men favour Western hair styles, including pony tails, inspired by Hollywood movie stars.
The introduction of appropriate hairstyles for men is the latest salvo in Iran's annual modesty campaign which peaks every year in the summer time and is aimed at combating deviation from strict Islamic attire.
Since the 1979 revolution that brought Islamists to power in Iran, authorities have regularly detained young people, male and female, for exhibiting 'lack of virtue' in their clothing, hair styles and makeup.
Laws in place since the revolution require women to cover from head-to-toe in loose-fitting overcoats hiding their shape and cover their head with a scarf.
The rules are enforced by police and paramilitaries, who castigate women for showing too much hair, wearing makeup or figure hugging clothing.
