Infertile Or Have ‘Too Much Facial Hair’ Can’t Be Teachers

15 Jul 2007

Iran Says Women Who Are Infertile Or Have ‘Too Much Facial Hair’ Can’t Be Teachers

If you’re a woman and are infertile or have “too much facial hair” you can’t become a teacher in Iran, according to a new list of conditions and illnesses issued by the Iranian Education Ministry that disqualifies applicants from being hired as teachers.

Mohabat News _ According to the list, a “thick accent,” getting “migraines and cluster headaches,” cancers that affect the head, face, or neck and, in the case of women, breast or ovarian cancer, are all taboo for would-be teachers.

Smokers, people who enjoy smoking a hookah, drug users, and alcoholics are also blacklisted, according to the document published by the semiofficial Fars news agency.

Many of the conditions on the extensive list have led to criticism and even ridicule on social media.

“In the Education Ministry’s medieval list, a thick accent and too much facial hair are considered an illness and a barrier for those willing to be hired as teachers. A clear violation of basic human rights,” tweeted Iranian journalist Sara Omatali.

The new government regulations also prevent people suffering from sexual dysfunction or venereal and sexual diseases, including AIDS and syphilis patients, from teaching at Iranian schools.

And those with mental problems, including psychosis, depression, and sexual deviation are also banned.

Journalist and activist Omid Memarian noted that under the new conditions, world-famous physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking — who suffers from a form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — wouldn’t be able to teach in Iran.