Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's 'Iran Look' Fires Up Twitter

[HAIDER]

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's look in Iran - draped in pink from head to toe - has been extensively critiqued online.

Images of Ms Swaraj in a pink sari and matching shawl at a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have gone viral and fed a debate on whether she was right to cover her head.

Comments ranged from lacerating to mildly disapproving to supportive.

An uncharitable tweet said the minister "is wearing a pink potato sack".


@TarekFatah@SushmaSwaraj yes. MEA is supposed to represent India and Indian culture. Will HE Iranian President wear Indian dress in India?

— Kailash Wagh (@kailashwg) April 17, 2016
I didn't know Sushma Swaraj went to Iran to fight Ayatollah's dress code and reform the country

— Sona (@sona2905) April 17, 2016 Many condemned the preoccupation with the minister's sartorial sense at a time important strategic moves were being made.
People bashing Sushma Swaraj for her 'Islamic dress' during Iran visit. And it is so unfair https://t.co/MLWMwoVwoy

— My PM Narendra Modi (@NaMo4PM) April 18, 2016 In Iran, the law requires all women to cover up. Some women dignitaries have tried to resist it, though without success.

Reports say Italy's Emma Bonino, the EU Foreign minister, was forced to wear a headscarf in 2014 after she landed in Tehran. The Iranian Chief of Protocol reportedly came to the tarmac with three headscarves for her, which she first refused. She hastily grabbed one when Iran reportedly threatened to cancel her visit.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop also wore a headscarf in Iran a year ago. Some conservative media outlets still complained that she had not "completely complied with hijab requirements". Ms Bishop responded to the criticism saying: "This is our first visit to Iran in 12 years and I do not want to make it our last."

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/foreign-minister-sushma-swarajs-iran-look-fires-up-twitter-1396716

 

[Rizwan Alam]

Nigah e mard e momin se.......

 

[Serpentine]

So people don't really have anything more important to talk about? Reminds me of women when they gather in groups and talk behind others' backs.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

There is a proverb in Hindi " Jaisa Desh Waisa Bhesh "

Which literally translates to
" Your clothes and your Get -up changes when you enter in Another country "

 

[Umair Nawaz]

There is a proverb in Hindi " Jaisa Desh Waisa Bhesh "

Which literally translates to
" Your clothes and your Get -up changes when you enter in Another country "

welldone kid

It translates to ''Like Country, like lifestyle''

 

[jamahir]

when bjp politicians go into a gurudwara ( the sikh prayer house ) don't they cover their heads?? why is there no hullabaloo then??

i am sick and tired of saffronis spreading anti-islam and anti-socialism hate !!

 

[livingdead]

haha... I wonder what bjp wallah will say...

 

[lastofthepatriots]

So people don't really have anything more important to talk about? Reminds me of women when they gather in groups and talk behind others' backs.

You will get to know the nature of the Indians slowly.

@Topic Indians are farigh.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

What is meaning of farigh

It means you guys have nothing better to do.

 

[AmirPatriot]

What is meaning of farigh

It means you guys have nothing better to do.

Thank you

 

[Madali]

As per the law and political norms, she doesn't have to cover herself like that. A simple headscarf is enough. For example, look at EU's Mogherini,

So this means that maybe Ms Sushma Swaraj just likes to cover herself up and is embarrassed to do it in her own country.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

As per the law and political norms, she doesn't have to cover herself like that. A simple headscarf is enough. For example, look at EU's Mogherini,

So this means that maybe Ms Sushma Swaraj just likes to cover herself up and is embarrassed to do it in her own country.

DO elderly women get some concessions

Sushma swaraj is 64 ; maybe the rules can be relaxed for Senior citizens

 

[Musalman]

That happens every where. My ex-boss was a woman. When we had a meeting in Peshwar, she used to wear chadhur there. In Lahore she only wore a dupatta. This is nothing but to show respect to the people you are visiting.

 

[nair]

What difference did it make???? I guess we need to grow up and stop bothering about these petty things...... A leader has gone to a foreign country, and if she follows a custom out of respect, whats wrong????? Your Ego is hurt???? She has done the right thing, and i support SS for this....

 

[Madali]

DO elderly women get some concessions

Sushma swaraj is 64 ; maybe the rules can be relaxed for Senior citizens

It's not a very well-written, clear cut law. There is a lot of variations on how it is applied, such as, are they Iranian or non-Iranian (non-Iranians's dress codes are tolerated much more), where is the city (a tourist like Kish is more lax than a religious place like Qom), the age of the person (no one is going to hassle a 80 year old woman), the street area, the day, political agenda, etc.