Iran: Men and Women to be Separated in Cafes

AdnKronos ^ | 5-16-07 | AdnKronos

[Cyrus the Great]

Tehran, 17 May (AKI) - Owners of trendy internet cafes, as well as bars and restaurants popular with young Iranians have received a letter signed by national police authorities in which new measures are announced to enforce "the country's moral health." "Public places will not be allowed to use dark windows anymore or curtains which make it impossible to view from the outside what is going on inside," said the letter, which states in particular that men and women must not be allowed inside internet cafes together but in separate days or schedules "to avoid unpleasant promiscuity."

The letter does not mention when these new rules will become effective but states that "a failure to fulfil them will lead to a suspension of the licence."

A new moralization campaign kicked off last month in Iran, forcing men and women to strictly abide by Islamic dress codes or face jail.

The campaign has also involved universities. Reformist university students in Tehran, Lorestaand Shiraz in the west, Babol near the Caspian sea, have been staging protests in the past few weeks against the new government measures which also impose opening hours on campus, lessons' schedules around prayer time, as well as restrictions on political activity. A number of students including members of top Tehran university, the Amir Kabir Polytechnic, have been arrested and accused of 'contacts with foreign powers to overthrow the Islamic government'.

[hunter112]

I'd love to see the younger Iranians revolt, but how many of them remember the pre-Ayatollah days of the Shah? Sure, their parents have told them stories, but do you risk dying for a family tale?

Maybe in the Muslim world, you do.

[Risky-Riskerdo]

Setting up the Shah and keeping him dictator was not a good idea. But that was during the Cold War, and Iran was a strategic location for keeping the Ruskies in check in that area and for spying.

Different climate these days. A western style democracy is what those students would like and it would work much better than say in Iraq. The students and young are very pro-western and pro-US.

[Shazolene]

Yeah, tell me how terribly women are treated in America!
We are sooooo lucky to be free as human beings.
Thank God for America.