Story from The Guardian tells of a new restriction on serving coffee in bookstores, which according to Iranian officials, constitutes an illegal “mixing of trades”.
But critics suspect the move is aimed at restricting the gathering of intellectuals and educated young people. The closure order comes amid an offensive against liberal trends by the Islamist government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which has included the banning of western books.
The reformist newspaper, Etemad-e Melli, pointed out that Ahl-e Ghalam, a bookstore linked to the culture and Islamic guidance ministry, had been allowed to keep its cafe.
Nothing like a good cup o joe with a little fanaticism thrown in.
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