Headscarf row dominates Le Pen's Lebanon visit

By Hajer M’tiri

PARIS (AA) - A planned meeting between French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and a senior Lebanese religious figure on Tuesday was cancelled after the far-right leader refused to wear a headscarf.

According to French daily Le Parisien, shortly after arriving at Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian's office as part of a three-day tour, one of his aides handed Le Pen a headscarf to wear.

Le Pen reportedly refused to put it on and the meeting was cancelled. "You can pass on my respects to the Grand Mufti, but I will not cover myself up," Le Pen reportedly told journalists.

However, Dar-al-Fatwa -- the mufti's office -- later issued a statement saying Le Pen was told prior to the meeting through one of her aides that she would have to wear a headscarf during her encounter with the mufti.

"This is the protocol," the statement said. It detailed how the mufti's aides tried to give her the headscarf and that Le Pen refused to take it.

"The mufti's office regrets this inappropriate behavior in such meetings," the statement added.

However, Le Pen argued she had met in the past with the grand mufti of Egypt back in 2015 without wearing a headscarf.

Tuesday’s row follows last week’s controversy over a female Swedish minister donning a headscarf during an official visit to Iran.

European Affairs and Trade Minister Ann Linde faced criticism for wearing the covering while on official business. She was part of a Swedish delegation visiting the country at the invitation of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

She was later defended by Swedish Interior Minister Anders Ygeman who told Anadolu Agency: "It's quite humane of Linde and other female officials to wear headscarves during an official visit to Iran. It's respect for human rights.”