( dpa )- Iranian cultural authorities have closed down nine magazines for reporting on the private life of Western celebrities, ISNA news agency reported Sunday.
The magazines, dealing mainly with people and cinema news, were charged for having printed pictures and details of "immoral" foreign celebrities.
The press commission further warned 13 other publications to avoid such stories or risk being closed down as well.
The magazines, including 7 or Talash (Effort), were popular with young Iranians who follow Western music and cinema news and buy DVDs and audio CDs on the back market for between 1 and 2 dollars.
The ban will not, however, have much impact on young people as they follow the same news on the internet, even on Persian-language sites run from abroad.