Iran: Woman Banned from Politics for Being 'Too Attractive'

Reports in Iran suggest a woman has been denied a place on a city council because she is "too attractive for politics".

Nian Siahkali Moradi, 27, secured a reserve place on the council of Qazvin, a city around 93 miles northwest of Tehran, after picking up 10,000 votes in Iran's recent elections, according to The Independent.

However when one of those elected ahead of her gave up his seat, Moradi was denied the chance to step in. A senior city official quoted in The Times as saying: "We don't want a catwalk model on the council."

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran says Moradi was disqualified because she failed to observe Islamic codes. In addition, it is believed several complaints against her campaign posters were levelled by the electoral review board.

"Almost 10,000 people voted for me and based on that I should be the first alternate member of the City Council," Moradi told local media, according to a report in news.com.au.

Moradi's rivals say she was elected only because she is attractive and young, and there were complaints against her before the elections regarding non-alignment with Islamic traditions.

The situation is also particularly challenging for Iran's new president, Hassan Rohani, who has vowed to fight for women's rights. Prior to his election, he was quoted as saying: "Women work but don't enjoy equal rights. I will form a women's affairs ministry to return their trampled rights to them."

Saudi Arabian authorities were earlier accused of deporting three men for being "too handsome" for their country. The claim was later proven false. However, Iran now faces a similar issue has come up again, with reports claiming