Controversy over Headscarf Row Dominates Le Pen's Lebanon Visit

Rasa - A planned meeting between French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and a senior Lebanese religious figure was canceled after the far-right leader refused to wear a headscarf, with the office of the Grand Mufti regretting the 'inappropriate behavior'.

News ID: 427605

Date: 22 February 2017 - 22:06

RNA - shortly after Le Pen's arriving at Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian's office as part of a three-day tour, one of his aides handed the French presidential candidate a headscarf to wear. But Le Pen reportedly refused to put it on and the meeting was canceled, Anadolu reported.

"You can pass on my respects to the Grand Mufti, but I will not cover myself up," Le Pen reportedly told journalists after her controversial move.

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.

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