News/Commentary

Iranian president WALKS OFF interview when Christiane Amanpour refuses head covering – in New York!

September 22, 2022 | | Print Article

CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour refused Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s demand to wear a headscarf during an interview on American soil. This rejection of tradition comes a week after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the “morality police,” and as Iranian women are protesting against mandatory modesty.

In a Twitter thread, Amanpour details how her scheduled interview with Raisi never happened because she refused his demand to wear a headscarf on United States soil. The aide who came to Amanpour with the request cited the “situation in Iran” as women gather in the streets to protest their oppression under the regime.

“Protests are sweeping Iran & women are burning their hijabs after the death last week of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest by the ‘morality police’. Human rights groups say at least 8 have been killed. Last night, I planned to ask President Raisi about all this and much more,” the thread began.

“This was going to be President Raisi’s first ever interview on US soil, during his visit to NY for UNGA. After weeks of planning and eight hours of setting up translation equipment, lights and cameras, we were ready. But no sign of President Raisi.”

“40 minutes after the interview had been due to start, an aide came over. The president, he said, was suggesting I wear a headscarf, because it’s the holy months of Muharram and Safar,” she continued. I politely declined. We are in New York, where there is no law or tradition regarding headscarves. I pointed out that no previous Iranian president has required this when I have interviewed them outside Iran.”

“The aide made it clear that the interview would not happen if I did not wear a headscarf. He said it was ‘a matter of respect,’ and referred to ‘the situation in Iran’ – alluding to the protests sweeping the country,” Amanpour explained. “Again, I said that I couldn’t agree to this unprecedented and unexpected condition.”

Putting her foot down on this breach of tradition would result in the loss of her interview with Raisi.

“And so we walked away. The interview didn’t happen. As protests continue in Iran and people are being killed, it would have been an important moment to speak with President Raisi,” the host concluded.

This comes as women in Iran are continuing to protest mandatory hijabs and headscarves, even going so far as to burn them.

Contrast this with the “60 Minutes” interview Leslie Stahl conducted with Raisi at the presidential compound in Tehran. During the interview, she donned the traditional head covering and was allowed to question the leader. Social media was not impressed, however, as Raisi used the platform to question whether the Holocaust happened.

Twitter was quick to castigate Stahl for the interview which aired on Sunday, just days after the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody for allegedly violating Iran’s strict hijab laws:

Sierra Marlee
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