Robinson defends wearing scarf

Geneva - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, said yesterday that she had worn a headscarf during an anti-racism conference in Tehran last week because it was the law of the country. But she said she had made formal protests over the effective barring of a Jewish human rights group and an organisation representing the Bahai faith from entering the country for the gathering.

Mrs Robinson told a news conference she had also urged protesting women from Western non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attending the conference that they should also wear the scarf.