Politis

Oriana Fallaci: The Moment She Threw Off Her Headscarf in Front of Khamenei (Video)

Published March 5, 2026, 17:16
Oriana Fallaci: The Moment She Threw Off Her Headscarf in Front of Khamenei (Video)

Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci went down in history for her bold stance and disregard for rules, particularly during her interview with Ayatollah Khamenei in Iran in 1979. In order to be allowed to meet with the Iranian leader, she was forced to wear a chador, the traditional Islamic veil. However, during the interview, Fallaci removed the chador and threw it in front of Khamenei, in a symbolic act of resistance against religious authoritarianism and in defense of journalistic freedom. The interview turned into a heated confrontation, as Fallaci challenged Khamenei about the rights of women in the new Islamic regime. Her act of removing the chador was a direct response to the attempt to impose restrictions on her freedom and the expression of her views. The interview was completed the next day and became one of the most famous in the history of journalism. Oriana Fallaci was an outstanding journalist, known for her direct and unconventional way of dealing with her interviewees. She interviewed many leaders of the 20th century, such as Henry Kissinger, Yasser Arafat, and the Shah of Iran, asking difficult questions and challenging their positions. A significant chapter in her life was her relationship with Greek resistance fighter Alekos Panagoulis. They met when Fallaci came to Greece to interview Panagoulis after his release from prison. The two lived together for several years, until Panagoulis' death in a car accident in 1976. Fallaci dedicated her book “A Man” to his memory.