Iran Now Bans Homer Simpson Dolls

Doh! Those wacky Iranians are at it again. Last month Barbie Dolls were banned and therefore deemed haram (forbidden). This month, it's Homer Simpson and his gang. The dolls, that is.

The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, (yes, there's actually a governmental agency for this) banned the Homer Simpson dolls because owning them promotes Western culture, and we know how odious Western culture is in the eyes of the mullahs.  Apparently Spiderman and Superman are cool, because they happen to be heroes, and “They help oppressed people and they have a positive stance.”  At least according to Mohammad Hossein Farjoo, secretary of the above agency.

Okay.

Farjoo said of Homer Simpson:

“We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys.” 

He did not elaborate on what was wrong with the Simpsons specifically. But he noted that any doll on which genitals are distinguishable, as well as dolls of adults, are banned. So were toys with speakers that blare out the voices of Western singers, or toy kitchen sets that include glasses for drinking alcoholic beverages.

Dolls of adults? Why?

Last month, they wound up shuttering a bunch of shops for selling Barbies illegally. I'm sure another slew are headed for closure.