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Last update - 10:03 29/04/2008 Iran official warns of 'danger' of Barbie, Harry Potter toys By The Associated Press Tags: toys, Iran, Harry Potter  TEHRAN, Iran - A top Iranian judiciary official warned Monday against the destructive cultural and social consequences of importing Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter toys. In the latest salvo in a more than decade-old government campaign against Barbie, Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi said in an official letter to Vice President Parviz Davoudi that the doll and other Western toys are a "danger that need to be stopped." "The irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger," said the letter, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press. Advertisement Iranian markets have been inundated with smuggled Western toys in recent years partly due to a dramatic rise in purchasing power as a result of increased oil revenues. While importing the toys is not necessarily illegal, it is discouraged by a government that seeks to protect Iranians from what it calls the negative effects of Western culture. Najafabadi said the increasing visibility of Barbies and other Western dolls has alarmed authorities and they are considering intervening. "The displays of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter ... as well as the irregular importation of unsanctioned computer games and movies are all warning bells to the officials in the cultural arena," his letter said. Najafabadi said Iran is the world's third biggest importer of toys and warned that smuggled imports pose a threat to the identity of the new generation. "Undoubtedly, the personality and identity of the new generation and our children, as a result of unrestricted importation of toys, has been put at risk and caused irreparable damages," he said. Barbie is sold wearing swimsuits and miniskirts in a society where women must wear head scarves in public and men and women are not allowed to swim together. In 1996, the head of a government-backed children's agency called Barbie a Trojan horse sneaking in Western influences such as makeup and revealing clothes. Authorities launched a campaign of confiscating Barbies from toy shops in 2002, denouncing the un-Islamic sensibilities of the iconic American doll. But the campaign was eventually dropped. Also in 2002, Iran introduced its own competing dolls - the twins Dara and Sara - who were designed to promote traditional values with their modest clothing and pro-family stories. But the dolls proved unable to stem the Barbie tide. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Clear, present danger Survey : 52% of youth believe Israel faces existential threat. Feeling guilty Europe's criticism of Israel is more than just anti-Semitism.   1.   It is all America`s plot to weaken the national backbone of Iran. 00:08  |  Ayatollah 29/04/08   2.   Iran feels all education is dangerous! except koran. 00:31  |  Avram 29/04/08   3.   Dara and Sara accessories. Hmmm... 00:49  |  Akiva P 29/04/08   4.   its all about marketing 01:38  |  zionist forever 29/04/08   5.   I never knew that Iranian culture was so weak 02:15  |  Gee 29/04/08   6.   The worlds third largest importer of "kids toys"! 02:33  |  Stephen. 29/04/08   7.   Mattel`s Barbie Raises Iran`s Hypocrites` Blood Pressure 03:14  |  Lavi 29/04/08   8.   Diplomacy, time & trade will end the ayatollahs 03:18  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 29/04/08   9.   Go Barbie Go!!!! 03:25  |  Lynn 29/04/08   10.   A regime intimidated by Barbie dolls - welcome to iran 03:41  |  Johnny 29/04/08   11.   Is this really news that affect Israel? 03:46  |  kamal 29/04/08   12.   wheres natalie and clockfool? 03:48  |  sammy 29/04/08   13.   Yet another scientific wonder of the quran? 04:13  |  Johnny 29/04/08   14.   It`s Stuff Like This That Makes Iran A Sick Place! 05:00  |  MIKE 29/04/08   15.   how come no iranians in talkbacks? 06:17  |  david 29/04/08   16.   Lynn - - Made by China 06:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/04/08   17.   clickfool and co. you welcome to comment on this article 06:38  |  Mikey 29/04/08   18.   Watch out for Sesame Street and the Muppets too !!! 06:43  |  Fortuna Benmayor 29/04/08   19.   kamal of Beirut@#11 06:53  |  Akiva P 29/04/08   20.   I am Iranian! David from NEW YORK 07:59  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/04/08   21.   re #17, Sesame Street 08:02  |  rob of melbourne 29/04/08   22.   #18 Akiva 08:03  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/04/08   23.   Lakshmi !!! Is Barbie A Prostitute According To Pakistanis Also? 08:28  |  Eli 29/04/08   24.   Akiva P #18 08:34  |  kamal 29/04/08   25.   #11, Kamal I am as surprised as you 09:03  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/04/08   26.   Barbie is really Barbara a nice jewish girl 09:04  |  SJ 29/04/08   27.   # 15 David 10:05  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/04/08   28.   Kamal and Roxana 10:57  |  Isaac Leal 29/04/08   29.   "Suicide Vest Sara" or "Mass Destruction Dara" 11:17  |  bretware 29/04/08   30.   TIME for a Barbie Jihad.Praise be the threat is exposed.! 11:19  |  PETER SM 29/04/08   31.   Roxana Azizam, You Don`t Know Israel`s Age Nor Do You ... 11:19  |  Lavi 29/04/08   32.   WWIII KNOCKING THE DOORS. DONT LOSE TIME WITH THE BARBIES 11:21  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   33.   CHILDREEN DONT TAKE BARBIES AS ENEMIES 11:22  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   34.   THE BARBIE IS A TOY. AND CHILDREEN LOVE HER. 11:23  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   35.   THE BARBIES ARE WHAT CHILDREEN WISH TO BE. NOTHING WRONG TO DREAM 11:24  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   36.   WAS IRAN RADICAL IN HER 1000 YEARS STRONG PAST ? 11:24  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   37.   WHY ISRAEL STILL STAND ! BECAUSE SHE NEVER FULLY STAYS RADICAL 11:25  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   38.   ISLAMIS DICTATOR IRAN CANT LIVE MUCH THAN 50 YEARS. 11:26  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 29/04/08   39.   Primitivism vs. Enlightenment 11:29  |  j10 29/04/08   40.   Iran Finally Right for a Change!!! 11:30  |  Baruch Gold 29/04/08   41.   Surprising to encounter.. 11:39  |  The Northern Wind 29/04/08   42.   These are the darlings of the new `left wing` 11:44  |  x-ray 29/04/08   43.   Roxana at least you`re trying 11:49  |  x-ray 29/04/08   44.   # 16 Mark of Lewiston....not sure of the mfg. 13:39  |  Lynn 29/04/08   45.   Full Mattel Jacket? 13:40  |  Ronnie Wolman 29/04/08   46.   #45..Ronnie Wolman 14:25  |  Nemesis 29/04/08   47.   Israeli officials warn of Iranian toys Raad, Khaybar and Chehab:) 14:32  |  Aounist 29/04/08   48.   dear Kamal 14:44  |  just me 29/04/08   49.   Barbie displays all the best of American values 15:20  |  Roo 29/04/08   50.   # 49 Roo...don`t forget the pregnant Barbie 15:31  |  Lynn 29/04/08   51.   Chaval 15:41  |  Unbelivable! 29/04/08   52.   AOUNIST most of the world warns against Irans toy 15:57  |  PETER SM 29/04/08   53.   From the nation that bans neckties... 16:46  |  Walter 29/04/08   54.   Iran`s biggest problem is the facist islamic regime ruining it 17:29  |  anti-racist 29/04/08   55.   Kamal 11 + 24 17:33  |  ChanahS 29/04/08   56.   What about lesbian & transsexual versions of Barbie? Also banned? 17:40  |  western values? 29/04/08   57.   Talking to US religious right? 18:31  |  W 29/04/08   58.   Roxana boasting rich culture 18:40  |  Puzzled 29/04/08   59.   Barbie is our secret weapon 19:04  |  leo 29/04/08   60.   Kamal from Beirut the difference is 19:07  |  David Israel 29/04/08   61.   MARK KLEIN, M.D., thx for your post 19:43  |  Mark B. 29/04/08   62.   Roxana 19:51  |  manufacturer 29/04/08   63.   kia from iran 20:32  |  kia 29/04/08   64.   Barbies need more flesh for Iranians. 20:34  |  Elinor 29/04/08   65.   Mr Ken seduced Ahmadinejad 20:43  |  Herbert Kaine 29/04/08   66.   Those Ayatollahs 20:45  |  Mark Lincoln 29/04/08   67.   Roxana and Kamal participate in Jahaliyya 20:48  |  Herbert Kaine 29/04/08   68.   Roxana from Iran 21:30  |  David Israel 29/04/08   69.   kia , iran, Bush not against stem cells, condoms 21:55  |  Ken (really) 29/04/08   70.   12 22:21  |  zionist forever 29/04/08   71.   Kia from Iran 23:52  |  Ralph 29/04/08   72.   kia in Teheran 00:27  |  ChanahS 30/04/08   73.   to kia 63 00:53  |  Mikey 30/04/08   74.   To kamal, sammy, Ayatollah, Roxana from IRAN 01:17  |  Arbs/NazisConnection 30/04/08   75.   TO Atilla, Ayatollah, Roxana Iran, kamal 01:23  |  HISTORY 30/04/08   76.   Kia...not quite correct 04:31  |  Dan 30/04/08   77.   Look out it`s Barbie, She coming, Run, Run for your lives 05:42  |  Doc Holliday 30/04/08   78.   64 Elinor - Barbie is Anorexic 05:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/04/08   79.   Toys frightened Iran 08:25  |  Yohan 30/04/08   80.   Beware mullah !! 09:27  |  Ralph 30/04/08   81.   roxanna,maybe you iranians can make a detachable head on your 21:29  |  terrornator 30/04/08   82.   # 16,mark of lewiston,good point,i haven`t though about that,but 21:38  |  terrornator 30/04/08

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