Iranian religious police warn shops over 'immoral' mannequins

Iran's religious police have warned shopkeepers not to display mannequins dressed in ways that fail to conform to Islamic values, the state IRNA news agency said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's religious police have warned shopkeepers not to display mannequins dressed in ways that fail to conform to Islamic values, the state IRNA news agency said on Wednesday.

The religious police said female mannequins should be veiled and must not display bodily curves. Male sales assistants are also prohibited from selling women's underwear.

"Mannequins exposing bodily curves and without covered faces are prohibited in shops," a statement by the religious police said.

Such mannequins, the police said, could see "unpleasant consequences and have a bad influence on public morality."

Iranian authorities strengthened control over dress codes after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first election victory in 2005.