Words and actions follow you after death and it applies to everyone. In this particular case and after her death Vassos Papandreouhis historical strain PASOK, a story – unknown to most – is the best tribute to her memory.
It concerns the visit of Vassos Papandreou in 1998 to Iran, as Minister of Development.
Vaso Papandreou refused to submit to the theocratic dress code of the Iranian regime and did not wear the headscarf (hijab).
Read also: Vaso Papandreou: A PASOK life
Baso #Papandreou
The refusal of PASOK Minister Vasos Papandreou to comply with the theocratic dress code of the Iranian regime during her official visit as Minister, in 1998 pic.twitter.com/eu8tymWwtU
— Greekphase (@greekphase) October 17, 2024
Negotiations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian embassy in Athens lasted fifteen whole days and Iran took a step back allowing a woman without a headscarf to enter the country…
During the ten days of her stay, she was constantly accompanied by four members of the “Islamic Revolutionary Guards”, who gave her a touching surprise at the end.
Vasso Papandreou has a special place in the history of PASOK. And always will have.
Scientist, with studies abroad, in a very difficult period.
Politician of works, consistency, seriousness, responsibility.
Woman who broke every “glass ceiling” that… pic.twitter.com/joa2qQmUpT
— Pavlos Christidis (@christidisp) October 17, 2024
Everything became known from a text posted years ago by her doctor and a former executive of PASOK, Panagiotis Louskos. As he writes:
– I was lucky in November 1998 to participate in that historic visit of the then Minister of DEVELOPMENT Mr. VASSOS PAPANDREOU to IRAN and I would like to share with you, some of my memories, on the occasion of today’s events.
The Greek delegation numbered 13 people. Ten of the participants were men and three were women.
The vertical refusal of Mrs. Vassos Papandreou to comply with the theocratic clothing obligation of the Iranian regime, for entering their country, led to a 15-day negotiation with the Iranian Embassy in Athens.
Finally the regime compromised, retreated and allowed the Minister and only for her entry into IRAN, without their harsh clothing tradition.
If I remember correctly, such approval had been given until then, to a foreign visitor, for the first time.
The flight had taken place with the government aircraft and upon our arrival at the Tehran airport and before we set foot on Iranian soil, four armored revolution guards entered the aircraft, making a thorough check for the agreed clothing of the three women.
There was 24-hour guarding of all of us by the guards of the revolution both on our official journeys and in the hotel where we were staying, by the armed men, whose faces we had NEVER seen.
I will not refer to the details of the visit, but only to one fact.
After ten days of stay it was time to leave.
Going to the airport always accompanied by the guards of the revolution, when we had boarded the plane the following unexpected and at the same time touching thing happened:
– the 4 guards of the revolution took off the handkerchiefs that covered their faces.
We were speechless when we found out after ten days that the guards were women.
They hugged Mrs. VASO Papandreou and burst into tears over her, saying “HOW IMPORTANT and SYMBOLIC” it was for them, that a foreign visitor succeeded and entered the country, violating all the rules of the regime.
*To understand what is happening today and why women will WIN in IRAN
*RESPECT…>>.
This was Vaso Papandreou 🌹:
When Vaso Papandreou refused to wear a headscarf and went to Iran with a hat
— gpapoul (@gpapoul) October 17, 2024
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#Vaso #Papandreou #refused #wear #headscarf #Iran #inspired #women
