Italy's Orlana Fallaci gets another probing interview
Iran's state radio and television last week once again attacked Western news organizations. This time, Tehran's anger was directed against those who "raise hell when Iran punishes murderers but shut up when the best youths of Iran are murdered by agents of Zionism and imperialism." That was a reference to the fact that newsmen in Tehran had paid little attention to an ambush by Kurdish rebels in which 52 Islamic militiamen were killed. But if the Western press is not to be trusted, why then did the Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini sit for an interview with Italian Journalist Oriana Fallaci? One factor, explained Nassiros-sadat Salami, the Iranian translator of Fallaci s book, Interview with History who served as interpreter, was Khomeini's acquaintance with a devastating interview that Fallaci had done with the Shah in 1973. The Shah, deeply offended, had it banned in Iran.
The interview with Fallaci was only the second that Khomeini has given to a Western journalist since his return from Pans last February (the first was to Eric Rouleau of Le Monde, in May). Fallaci's article was first published in the Milan daily Corriere della Sera, and appeared last week in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. The interview was also reprinted in two Tehran newspapers.
Although the interview, done in Fallaci's characteristically provocative style does not reflect it, she told TIME last week that she was impressed by Khomeini's great dignity and splendid bearing It was the first time that I have ever felt charisma." She was surprised by "the difference between the reality I saw there surrounding the Ayatullah and the way the Western press reports on him. The reality is that the people want him."
The interview took place at the Ayatullah's residence in the holy city of Qum and lasted, in all, for about three hours. As a sign of respect for Khomeini, Fallaci decided to wear a chador, the traditional floor-length black veil worn by Muslim women in Iran. "I don't wear blue jeans to interview the Pope," she explained. As it happened, the chador produced the most dramatic moment of the interview. In the midst of several questions about the role of women in an Islamic society, Fallaci charged that the chador was symbolic of the segregation into which women have been cast by the revolution. "They have to take a dip apart in their chadors," she said. "By the way how do you swim in a chador?" "Our customs are none of your business," Khomeini answered. "If you do not like Islamic dress, you're not obliged to wear it because Islamic dress is for good and proper young women."
"That's very kind of you," said Fallaci. And since you said so, I'm going to take off this stupid, medieval rag right now." When she did so, recounts Fallaci, Khomeini got up "like a young cat" and left the room without saying a word. Khomeini, however, agreed to see her again the next day.