Iraqi woman allegedly beaten at Iranian airport sparks outrage within Iraq
Iranian state-media said on Friday that Iran's vice-consul in Najaf visited the woman to apologize for the police's behavior.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFAn Iranian Aseman Airlines' Fokker 100 takes off as an Iran Air aircraft is seen in the foreground at Tehran's international airport August 6, 2007. (photo credit: REUTERS/MORTEZA NIKOUBAZL)
A video of an Iraqi woman in her 50s with injuries to her face spread like wildfire throughout social media, angering Iraqi officials after it was implied that the woman was beaten at Iran's Mashad Airport following her arrival in the country.Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad al-Sahaf said that his office is following the reports with "great interest" after the allegations came to light, according to the Al Arabiya news site.The woman was allegedly beaten by police officers at the Iranian airport. She claimed that they struck her in the eye, according to Arab News. The video has provoked widespread anger among Iraqis.Iranian state-media said on Friday that Iran's vice-consul in Najaf, Iraq, visited the woman to apologize for the police's behavior.“Iraq treats all those who arrive to its land with humanity and respect,” said the foreign ministry, calling on “all countries to treat Iraqis similarly.”Many Iraqis have used social media to express their anger, demanding an apology from the Iranian government. Journalists across the country told Radio Farda that once news of the alleged abuse reached Iraq, the story completely occupied all Iraqi media channels – with thousands outraged, including people from the woman's hometown of Najaf.
The Iraqi foreign ministry is “following with great interest” the case of a woman who claims she was beaten by a security officer at an Iranian airport https://t.co/EKGCUlUcmkpic.twitter.com/x3nCgbWDCX
