CNN cancels interview with Iranian president over headscarf demand
September 23, 2022, 7:33 am

CNN cancels interview with Iranian president over headscarf demand

Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour cancelled an interview after demands she wear a headscarf - Christiane Amanpour

Veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour cancelled an interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after he demanded she wear a headscarf for their meeting in New York.

"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," Amanpour wrote on Twitter.

"This was going to be President (Ebrahim) 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," she added, referring to the UN General Assembly.

A presidential aide went to Amanpour 40 minutes after the interview had been scheduled to begin and asked her to wear a headscarf "because it's the holy months of Muharram and Safar."

Amanpour said she declined the request.

Veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour cancelled an interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after he demanded she wear a headscarf for their meeting in New York.

"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," she said.

Amanpour claimed 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."

U.S. sanctions Iran's morality police -Treasury website

The internationally-recognized journalist and her team then walked away, saying she could not agree to "this unprecedented and unexpected condition."

"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," she said.

The death of Mahsa Amini detained in Iran for allegedly breaking headscarf rules has sparked violent unrest there.

Amini, 22, fell into a coma last week, hours after morality police arrested her.

Iranian activist gets 3-year sentence in prison for sharing video without hijab

Officers reportedly beat Ms Amini's head with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles. The police have said there is no evidence of any mistreatment and that she suffered "sudden heart failure".

The protests, now in their seventh day, have reached 80 other cities and towns in the Islamic Republic. At least 17 people have been killed.

Amini's father, Amjad Amini, told BBC Persian on Wednesday (Sep 21) that authorities refused to allow him to see his daughter's body following her death.

Rights group: Iran’s security forces kill four amid protests over Mahsa Amini’s death

"They're lying. They're telling lies. Everything is a lie ... no matter how much I begged, they wouldn't let me see my daughter," he said. "I have no idea what they did to her."

Amini said his daughter's body was fully wrapped for burial except for her feet and face when he was finally allowed to see her. Bruising was visible on her feet, he said.

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