Iranista kuuluu kummia:

The Islamic Republic of Iran recently released a list of hairstyles that are approved for people in the country. The mullet is banned, as are ponytails and other “decadent Western cuts.” Those who defy the orders risk harassment and possible arrest. The BBC’s Behzad Bolour told PRI’s The World, that the police may “stop you, they take you, and I’ve seen some videos of inside the police station, they cut your hair and they treat you a bit rough.”

Juttu toi minulle ensiksi mieleen uutisen, jossa Pohjois-Korean miehet pakotettiin leikkaamaan pitkät hiuksensa, etteivät ne varastaisi ravinteita aivojen kehitykseltä.

Huvittavan kiellon taustalta löytyy kuitenkin vakavempia ongelmia.

The crackdown on haircuts may seem funny, but it serves as a reminder to the Iranian people to keep looking over their shoulders and remember who’s in charge. It cultivates a climate of fear in the people of Iran. The government is using the haircuts as a way to distract people from more serious problems, including inflation, nuclear issues and international sanctions.

If you’re worried about whether you’re going to be arrested for how you look when you’re going outside, you’re even more inhibited from even thinking about expressing any kind of political dissent.

Pistää miettimään, montako vuotta vielä kestää ennen kuin tuosta kolkasta löytyy jotain todellista demokratiaa…

Michael