Christiane Amanpour Says Iranian President Canceled Interview Because She Wouldn’t Wear A Headscarf Amid Deadly Hijab Protests

The president of Iran canceled a New York interview with Christiane Amanpour at the last minute after she refused to wear a headscarf.

Amanpour said that one of the president's aides suggested that he wear a headscarf for the on-camera interview because of the two holiest months of the year.

Amanpour said she declined because previous Iranian presidents did not require her to wear a headscarf.

Amanpour said that the aide gave him an ultimatum and that it was a matter of respect.

It would have been an important moment for Raisi to speak as at least eight deaths have been reported during the protests, according to Amanpour, but she walked away from the interview.

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Women have been at the forefront of the protests in Iran over the past week after a Kurdish woman died in custody for not following the country's strict rules for women's clothing. Amini died after falling into a coma at the center. The police said she had a heart attack, but her family said she was healthy and had been mistreated by the police. Protests erupted in Iran on the day of Amini's funera l, mostly in the northwest of the country in Kurdish-populated cities, and spread throughout the week. Women have burned their headscarves in protest. Raisi wants a complete investigation into Amini's death.

The death toll in Iran has risen due to internet curbs.

Women are burning headscarves at anti-hijab protests.

Iran blocks nearly all internet access as anti government protests intensify.

Here is what you need to know about the anti-hijab protests.