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Not to be outdone by Brighton who yesterday outlawed any music preaching a message of HATE, Iran has banned the entire genre of rap.

Mohammed Dashtgoli of Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry: "There is nothing wrong with this type of music in itself. But due to the use of obscene words by its singers this music has been categorised as illegal."

Rap acts have seen their popularity increase rapidly in Iran of late, down largely to black market trade in their records.

However, it appears that the genre is the latest victim of the much-vaunted east/west culture clash - Dashtgoli continuing to outline how Iranian police would look to "seal" any offending studios and "confront" rap artists.