Iranian President Cancels Interview With CNN Broadcaster Because Of Head Scarf

Mary Akanbi

22nd September, 2022

Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, canceled an interview in New York, United States, with CNN broadcaster, Christiane Amanpour, at the last minute after she refused to wear a headscarf, Amanpour said, on Thursday.

This came as women across Iran protested the country’s laws requiring women to wear hijab in public after a young woman died after being detained by Iran’s morality police.

Amanpour was scheduled to interview Raisi, on Wednesday evening, in New York, where the president traveled in order to address the United Nations, Amanpour said on Twitter, Thursday.

Nearly an hour after the interview was slated to begin, Raisi had still not arrived, Amanpour said one of the president’s aides came forward and suggested Amanpour put on a headscarf for the on-camera interview because of Muharram and Safar, two holy months in Islam.

Amanpour said she “politely declined,” noting that previous Iranian presidents never required her to don a headscarf during interviews that took place outside Iran.

The aide gave Amanpour an ultimatum, saying it was “a matter of respect” and referred to “the situation in Iran,” Amanpour said, alluding to the protests in the country.

Amanpour said she could not agree to the condition and walked away from the interview, writing on Twitter it would have been “an important moment” for Raisi to speak as at least eight deaths have been reported amid the protests.

The issue of hijab and head covering has become a law in Iran after a woman was recently beaten to death for not properly covering her hair.

The death of the young woman has led to a national protest in the country and lives and properties were reported to have been lost during the course

Reacting to the president's reason for declining the interview, Yesufu said it is such arrogance stating that it was wrong of him to impose a headscarf on everyone

she said no one can tell her to remove her scarf therefore no one should force anyone to wear a scarf