Conservative Iranian TV host draws social media ire for not wearing hijab, drinking beer

In response to the revelations, Namdari released a video of herself

Iranian television presenter Azadeh Namdari has faced backlash on social media for alleged hypocrisy over not wearing hijab and drinking beer while on holiday in Switzerland.

Azadeh is a proponent of wearing hijab and a photo of her in an abaya was once published in conservative Iranian newspaper Vatan-e Emruz under the headline, 'Thank God, I wear the veil'.

Recently, a video emerged of Azadeh drinking alcohol and not wearing the veil which left the online audience in rage, according to BBC. In response to the revelations, Namdari released another video of herself in which she offered reasons for not wearing a hijab.

The two-minute long video was published by the hardline Young Journalists' Club (YJC) news agency under the headline "Azadeh Namdari's reaction to the publication of scandalous photos in cyberspace".

This time wearing a hijab, she explained she was sitting with family members and maharem - close relatives among whom a woman does not need to wear a hijab - in a park. She said her scarf fell suddenly and the video was taken at that instant by an unknown person. She gave no explanation about drinking beer in the video, BBC said. 

She was thoroughly criticised as social media users called out on Namdari's 'hypocrisy' and 'dual-behaviour', and using her name as the Persian hashtag #Azadeh_Namdari.

Since the initial video emerged on July 24, the hashtag has been used over 11,000 times.



"She does not have the right to encourage people to observe the rules that she herself does not observe," a user tweeted.

Another tweet read, "The problem is not #Azadeh_Namdari or people like her. The problem is the ideology, culture and the system that forces individuals in society to have dual-behaviour for some reasons."

Reactions to the second video were harsher. Users called Namdari a 'liar' and a 'hypocrite' who tried to fool the people.

The Facebook page Iran Without Clerics addressed Namdari in a post and wrote, "We do not have any problem with you not wearing hijab or drinking beer. Our problem is that you... take the Iranian people for a fool!"

However, there were a few social media users who believed she could wear and do whatever she wants.