Marine Le Pen refuses headscarf, backs Assad on Lebanon visit

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen visited Lebanon on 20-21 February 2017, having received a mixed reception.

Ms Le Pen pulled out of a meeting with the Grand Mufti because she refused to wear a headscarf and told Lebanese leaders the Syrian president should be supported in his country's civil war.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key source: France Presidential Election 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-presidential-election-2017/

ESO: Background information: Marine Le Pen makes globalisation the enemy http://www.europeansources.info/record/marine-le-pen-launches-her-campaign-programme-for-presidential-election/

The Independent, 21.02.17: Marine Le Pen walks out of meeting with Lebanon's Grand Mufti after refusing to wear headscarf http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/marine-le-pen-lebanon-grand-mufti-sheikh-abdel-latif-derian-refuse-headscarf-meeting-walk-out-fn-a7591141.html

The Local.fr, 21.02.17: Le Pen accused of 'improper behaviour' for refusing headscarf to meet Muslim leader http://www.thelocal.fr/20170221/le-pen-accused-of-improper-behaviour-for-refusing-to-wear-headscarf-in-meeting-with-muslim-leader

The Wall Street Journal, 21.02.17: French Presidential Candidate Marine Le Pen Refuses to Wear Headscarf on Lebanon Trip https://www.wsj.com/articles/french-presidential-candidate-marine-le-pen-refuses-to-wear-headscarf-during-lebanon-trip-1487699329

EurActiv, 22.02.17: Le Pen cancels meeting with Lebanon’s grand mufti over headscarf http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/le-pen-cancels-meeting-with-lebanons-grand-mufti-over-headscarf/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2017: Le Pen's controversial headscarf refusal http://www.eurotopics.net/en/174880/le-pen-s-controversial-headscarf-refusal

---