Iran union bans 'devil-worshipping' haircuts

“Devil-worshipping” haircuts have been reportedly banned in Iran, according to the country's main barbers union.

"Devil worshipping hairstyles are now forbidden," said Mostafa Govahi, the head of Iran's Barbers Union, according to the ISNA news agency.

"Any shop that cuts hair in the devil worshipping style will be harshly dealt with and their license revoked.”

The term is thought to refer to spiky and stylised hair popular with many in youth and alternative pop cultures, which have frequently been criticised as “un-Islamic” and “Westernised”.

Tattoos, body-piercings and eyebrow plucking are also reportedly being banned.

Gohavi has criticised unlicensed barbers for offering the hairstyles, noting that such venues had “been identified and will be dealt with”.

This is not the first time that there have been reports of Iranian crackdowns against Westernised haircuts and “effeminised” male fashion trends.

In 2007, Mohammad Eftekhari-Fard – the previous head of the Barbers' Union – had warned that his union would not provide support to those outlets providing “Western grooming methods”.

“Currently some salons use Western grooming methods to create styles that are in line with the European and American ones,” he said.

“The union has repeatedly announced the restrictions against unconventional grooming when issuing permits to each of the barber shops. Hence barbers, knowing these rules, should not pursue the wrong methods. The union will withdraw its support from those barbers who cut hairstyles that are out of line with the norms of the system.”