Iran Bans Celebrities in Advertising Promotions

(Tehran, Iran) The religion of peace apparently frowns on people benefitting from their popularity.

Iran has banned sports and movie stars from appearing in commercial advertisements on the grounds that celebrities should not promote consumerism, the government daily Iran reported Tuesday.

"The use of any images of cultural, athletic and national figures is banned in commercial advertisements," said Ali Reza Karimi, the head of the information office in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

"Cultural and athletic role models ... should be promoting chivalry rather than consumerism," he said, adding that the ban also applied to Persian-language satellite channels.

Iranian male movie and sports stars have been appearing on billboards and endorsing products for several years. A notable target of the ban appears to be the "Iranian Hercules," the heavyweight world weightlifting champion and double Olympic gold medallist Hossein Rezazadeh.

It's unknown what punishment awaits those celebrities who violate the ban.