Iranian foreign minister smirks as he’s grilled on women’s rights by CNN host Christiana Amanpour
Iran’s foreign minister couldn’t stop grinning when he was mocked about his country’s record on women’s rights in a belligerent interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday.
Hossein Amirabdollahian told the host that “this is not the way to conduct an interview” after insisting that women in Iran had “all the necessary, required freedoms” and accusing Western media of contributing to the protests there. wake up.
It comes just two days after diplomats walked out of an Iranian minister’s speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
During the tense interview, Amirabdollahian claimed that Mahsa Amini – the 22-year-old who died after being arrested by vice squad for not wearing the hijab – was turned into a “symbol” by protesters.
“You’re supposed to be interviewing me, but you’re actually having a confrontation with me,” he said Amanpour.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian smiled as he chastised CNN host Christiane Amanpour, telling her that ‘this is not the way to conduct an interview’
CNN presenter Amanpour addressed Iran’s foreign minister about his country’s record on women’s rights
This is not the way to conduct an interview. Women in Iran have all the necessary, required freedoms within the framework of the law,” he added.
“Do you ask other countries? Do you ask other countries in our region that are allies of the United States the same kind of questions you ask me about women’s hijab?
“The problem in Iran right now is not the hijab.”
Following Amini’s suspicious death on September 16, 2022, widespread civil unrest broke out in Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Law Enforcement Command claimed she suffered a heart attack at a police station, collapsed and went into a coma before being taken to a hospital.
But eyewitnesses claim that she was severely beaten and died due to police brutality.
The case shed new light on the country’s treatment of women, with a growing number of female Iranians choosing to ignore sharia-based law by wearing the hijab.
Protesters cut and burned their head coverings while chanting anti-government slogans.
It marks the longest-running anti-government protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which left hundreds dead.
Recently, up to 400 female students from about 30 schools were subjected to poisoning attacks in what is believed to be an attempt to prevent them from receiving an education.
Noxious fumes wafted into their classrooms, prompting some to require hospital treatment after complaining of headaches, palpitations, lethargy and an inability to move.
During Wednesday’s interview with CNN, Amirabdollahian accused the Western media of encouraging violent protests in his country.
“We had an incident in Iran. An Iranian girl has died and we all thought that was a great pity.
“But foreign interference and the Persian-language media based in the United States and Britain focused their activities on encouraging and inciting riots and acts of terrorism.
Mahsa Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest
Protests against Iran have been held in many parts of the world following the death of Mahsa Amini. Pictured: Demonstrators take part in an anti-Iran demonstration on December 24, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey
Women burned their headscarves in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria in September 2022
And that’s why peaceful protests turned violent – because of the foreign intervention.
To the extent that Daesh or even ISIS exploited the situation to establish a presence in Iran.
He added: “I can tell you this with complete confidence that our police and security forces in Iran have not killed anyone with bullets or other means in these riots.”
He claimed that the police were not authorized to use firearms in the riots.
On Monday, Amirabdollahian was controversially commissioned to deliver a speech on human rights at a UN meeting.
Videos circulating on Twitter appeared to show dozens of UN diplomats walking out as he began to speak.
In one clip, an unknown Iranian woman can be heard saying, “They are not ashamed and should be ashamed. They are child killers.’
A letter from UN Watch – a Geneva-based organization that monitors UN activities – urged all 193 members to leave the meeting.
It gathered more than 100 signatures from prominent lawmakers, human rights activists and celebrities.
Speaking at the meeting, Amirabdollahian said that the Iranian government is committed to upholding human rights.