Apple Store Refuses to Sell Items to Iranian Woman

Well this is interesting. A University of Georgia student was denied Apple products after a store employee overheard her and a friend speaking in Farsi. According to WSBTV:

Sabet is a U.S. citizen. Like most 19-year-olds, the University of Georgia student is never far from her iPhone.

So she was surprised Thursday when an employee at the Apple Store inside North Pointe Mall in Alpharetta refused to sell aniPad to her and her uncle after overhearing them speaking Farsi.

"When we said 'Farsi, I'm from Iran,' he said, 'I just can't sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations,'" Sabet said.

WSBTV went to the Apple store and the employee said again that they do not sell products to people from Iran.

A manager showed Viteri Apple's policy. It said the exportation, sale or supply from the U.S. to Iran of any Apple goods is strictly prohibited without authorization by the U.S. government. The manager also told Viteri they have to rely on customers to be honest.

A representative for the U.S. State Department told Viteri it is illegal to travel to Iran with laptops or satellite cellphones without U.S. authorization.

That representative said she is not familiar with Apple enforcing that law.

The girl did call Apple's customer service and they said she could order from the website. So I guess it's not completely store policy. Maybe the the employee thought the girl was working for Iran?

Thoughts?