The Spanish royal couple held the traditional ambassador’s reception on Wednesday. This also includes the controversial handshake with the monarch upon the arrival of the international guests. Recordings of the Iranian ambassador caused a stir on social networks. He refused to shake hands with Queen Letizia.
During the ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid, which was also attended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the royal couple was in good spirits and always smiling. Queen Letizia’s face darkened only briefly.
Because the Iranian ambassador Hassan Ghashghavi only shook hands with her husband, but not with the monarch. The video from a Spanish medium spread like wildfire on social media, sparking outrage in particular against the Iranian.
However, there were also users who pointed out that in Iran and in many other Muslim countries, men and women only shake hands under certain circumstances: if the initiative came from the woman or if there was a closer relationship.
Body language expert sees no disapproval
A body language expert told the online edition of the British newspaper “Daily Express” that there was no offense here. It’s just “cultural etiquette,” and in this case, it’s about “compliance with the Iranian norm,” according to Judi James. Moreover, Letizia also did not extend her hand to avoid “an embarrassing situation for the ambassador”.
Source: Krone
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