Christiane Amanpour says she canceled Iranian president’s interview after he demanded she wear head scarf

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi failed to exhibit up at his very first ever interview on U.S. soil soon after CNN’s Christiane Amanpour “politely declined” his desire to don a head scarf, the reporter said in a Twitter thread Thursday. 

“Following weeks of scheduling and 8 hrs of setting up translation devices, lights and cameras, we had been prepared. But no indication of President Raisi,” Amanpour defined. “40 minutes soon after the job interview had been because of to start, an aide came around. The president, he claimed, was suggesting I dress in a head scarf, since it is really the holy months of Muharram and Safar.”

Even though Amanpour has worn head scarves in the earlier for interviews in other nations, like Iran or Afghanistan, she observed that she would not use just one in a place exactly where it is not required.

“We are in New York, where by there is no regulation or tradition with regards to head scarves,” the journalist wrote. “I pointed out that no previous Iranian president has expected this when I have interviewed them outside the house Iran.”

In accordance to Amanpour, the aide who informed her of Raisi’s desire “alluded to the protests sweeping” Iran at present soon after a girl — who was detained by morality law enforcement for allegedly not absolutely covering her hair with her hijab — died in police custody. 

“As protests proceed in Iran and persons are being killed, it would have been an essential minute to discuss with President Raisi,” Amanpour reported.

Under Iran regulation, women of all ages have to abide by a distinct dress code, which is centered on the country’s interpretation of Sharia law. This consists of donning a hijab to deal with their hair, as very well as carrying free-fitting dresses to disguise their figures, the BBC experiences.

Past week, 22-year-aged Mahsa Amini was traveling to Tehran from Kurdistan when she was arrested by the morality law enforcement for not complying with the head masking rule. She died while in custody. 

Law enforcement have claimed Amini died thanks to wellness situations, indicating she experienced a coronary heart assault. Amini’s family members denied that she had any wellness challenges and critics and eyewitnesses have claimed that the lady was beaten in a law enforcement van prior to slipping into a coma.

Considering that the incident, protests have erupted all more than Iran in reaction to Amini’s dying. Quite a few gals are publicly burning their hijabs and chopping their hair off in solidarity with Amini. At minimum 17 have been killed in the protests, and internet obtain has been lower in several sections of the country.