Meet Fatima, the 1st Islamic doll

Innovations and inventions in Iran , and not just in the missile department : A number of products created specifically for the local market were revealed this week – an Islamic tie, Islamic doll and the 'Hijab Messenger' instant messaging software, Golnaz Esfandiari of RFE/RL (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) reported.

The tie, which is based on Islamic values, was specially designed in the shape of a sword and decorated Prophet Muhammad's quotes. The tie's designer, Hemat Komeili chose the sword which represents the sword of Shiite Imam Ali, Mohammad's cousin and brother in law, who is considered holy in Iran.

According to the designer, the inventive design received approval from some of Iran's shiite scholars.

Since Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979, most men stopped wearing ties as it represented the 'corrupt' west. In the first days of the revolution it was even claimed that men wearing ties were arrested and according to unofficial reports, had their ties cut off.

Iranian models 'Isamic Tie' 

Today, Iranian men still wear ties in public even though it doesn't strictly comply with the directives of the country's religious leaders and clerics.

Meanwhile, an Iranian firm has announced that it has produced the first Islamic doll. In the past, Iranians had two dolls, 'Sarah' and 'Dara' who were supposed to be Iran's answer to Barbie and Ken, but they couldn't break through the local market. The new doll has a more Islamic visage, less Iranian and goes by the name of 'Fatima'.

'Sarah' and 'Dara.' Lost the battle to Barbie (Photo: Mansur Mutmadi)

A representative of Fam, the doll's manufacturer, said that Fatima was meant to battle against the "enemies' cultural invasion" of Iran. According to Hossein Seresht, "by creating Barbie and marketing it, westerners are encouraging bad veiling and not wearing the hijab; all of these factors led us to take it as our duty to present Islamic dolls to the market."

Fam also launched new software which is meant to promote the wearing of the hijab. According to Seresht, the software includes videos of Islamic fashion, speeches on wearing hijab and an instant messenger service, Hijab Messenger.

The Iranian software is based on the yahoo instant messenger, but chats can only occur between "people who are defined within the system". He didn't explain if that meant that only women wearing hijab, or people supporting the idea could use it.

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