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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (23195)	3/19/2008 10:57:11 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

Swiss Leader in Headscarf Causes Outcry Mar 19 02:21 PM US/Eastern By ELIANE ENGELER Associated Press Writer breitbart.com GENEVA (AP) - Swiss media and politicians expressed outrage Wednesday that the country's foreign minister, an outspoken supporter of women's rights, wore a headscarf in a recent meeting with Iran's president in Tehran. Micheline Calmy-Rey donned a white, semitransparent scarf when she met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday to witness the signing of a natural gas contract between Swiss energy trading company EGL and the National Iranian Gas Export Co. "Like a submissive woman," the Lausanne daily tabloid Le Matin said in a front-page story. Numerous members of Switzerland's parliament also voiced anger and incomprehension over Calmy-Rey's choice of attire, standard for female politicians visiting Iran, which requires women to cover their hair in public. "Of course we have to respect customs," said Liliane Maury Pasquier, a Social Democrat like Calmy-Rey. But, she added, "Where is the solidarity with the women who fight against wearing the headscarf?" Marianne Binder, spokeswoman for the Christian Democrats, was quoted by the Zurich-based daily Blick as saying, "That was an embarrassing prostration in front of Ahmadinejad, who represents the repression of women and denies the Holocaust." Calmy-Rey brushed off the criticism upon returning to Switzerland on Tuesday. She told reporters she had worn the headscarf to show respect to her host and it was not a sign of submission. In an interview with daily Basler Zeitung, the foreign minister said Swiss female diplomats working in Iran also wear headscarves when they think it appropriate. She said the headscarf did not detract from her commitment to human rights.