TEHRAN: Iranian women should no longer be allowed to wear make-up when they appear on state television, according to a senior Iranian executive cited by the reformist Etemad newspaper. “Make-up (worn) by women during television programmes is illegal and against Islamic Sharia law … There should not be a single case,” said the head of the state broadcaster IRIB Ezatollah Zarghami, during a conference of network directors.
Zarghami, a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, has been re-appointed by the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He also stated that female guests should appear on TV shows “preferably” hosted by women.
Zarghami said that network directors should also prohibit “repulsive jokes” between men and women on television or radio.
According to media reports, women on Iranian TV do not expose their hair and wear heavy make-up.
Iran’s state television has eight TV channels and 15 radio stations.
