Iran Bans 'Decadent' Barbie Dolls

A shopkeeper displays Barbie dolls at his shop in Tehran. Photo by msnbc.com

Iranian authorities are cracking down on the sale of Barbie dolls in the country, as the morality police fear they may erode Islamic values.

Shopkeepers in Iran have been forced to keep the famous blonde behind other toys in order to satisfy popular demand without being sanctioned by the police, according to international media.

In 2002, Iran introduced two dolls – Sara, a female who adheres to the local dress code, and Dara, male – in an attempt to curb the Western culture from spreading in the country.

However, Iranian kids still seem to fancy Barbie, reports say.

The Islamic Republic's rulers have put efforts into chasing away western cultural influences from the country since its Islamic revolution overthrew a western-backed king in 1979.

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