The Swiss ambassador to the state is being criticized for visiting the holy land of Qom wearing a ‘chador’ that covers the whole body except for the eyes and nose. In Iran, more than 500 people are known to have died in a large-scale anti-hijab protest that was triggered in September last year.
According to AFP on the 23rd (local time), the Swiss government dismissed the controversy, saying that the attire of Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano was appropriate according to protocol when visiting the Holy Land.
On the 22nd (local time) Belgian parliamentarian Darya Safay posted a Twitter post criticizing Swiss Ambassador Lozano (Source: @SafaiDarya)Ambassador Lozano, who visited the Holy Land, was dressed in black from head to toe and wrapped a black cloth to hide his neck and head.
Ambassador Lozano’s attire immediately drew backlash. This is because Iranian citizens are currently fighting to win more free women’s clothing, such as the abolition of the hijab.
Just five months ago, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died mysteriously after being arrested by police for ‘not wearing a hijab properly’.
About 500 people were killed and 20,000 people were arrested in women’s rights and anti-government protests (hijab protests) that spread like wildfire following Amini’s death.
In January, human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) claimed that at least 55 people who participated in hijab protests had been executed this year.
On the 23rd (local time), actor Nazanin Boniadi posted a Twitter post requesting that hijab not be displayed at least when performing official duties (Source: @NazaninBoniadi)To the Iranian citizens who risked their lives for freedom, Ambassador Lozano’s outfit was accepted as a ‘betrayal’.
Opinion leaders supporting the hijab protests raised their voices of criticism against Ambassador Lozano.
Belgian parliamentarian Dariya Sapay tweeted: “He wore a hijab and promoted his oppressors, knowing that millions of Iranian women fought for their rights and thousands were killed for women’s rights.”
Dariya was active in solidarity rallies for hijab protests in Europe.
Marcy Alinejad, who has opposed the mandatory hijab for years, also criticized Lozano’s outfit as “a disgrace and a betrayal of Iranian women.”
ⓒ News1 DBIn response, the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained to AFP that “when visiting religious places, we followed the dress code that applies to women.”
‘What to wear to places related to Islam’ has long been a dilemma for foreign VIPs, including high-ranking government officials.
Some people are demanding that those who do not normally wear a hijab refrain from even ‘display’, such as wearing a hijab in public and taking pictures.
Actress Nazanin Boniadi, who openly supported the hijab protests at the Munich Security Conference, demanded that “don’t justify the regime with photos (in hijab).”
On the other hand, the Swiss ambassador is an important position in coordinating the interests between the US and Iran, which were severed due to the American diplomat hostage incident.
In November, the Swiss federal government refused to accept Western sanctions against Iran over hijab protests.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.