Furious Air France staff threaten mutiny over headscarf compulsion for flying to Tehran

After Air France told its female cabin crew they had to put on headscarves before flying into Iran, outraged staff are threatening mutiny.

Staff have accused the airline of attacking individual freedoms after a new dress code was announced ahead of the resumption of flights to Tehran in April.

An internal email said "Female cabin crew had to wear pants during the flight and put on a loose-fitting jacket and headscarf before disembarking the plane when it arrived in the strict Islamist country", reported new.com.au.

Union groups have condemned the new dress code and say cabin crew will refuse to fly when flights resume to Tehran on April 17. “They are forcing us to wear an ostentatious religious symbol,” union leader Francoise Redolfi told RFI radio. Adding, “We have to let the girls choose what they want to wear. Those that don’t want to must be able to say they don’t want to work on those flights."

A statement released by Air France says, "Iranian law requires the wearing of a veil covering the hair in public places for all women present on its territory. This obligation is not required during the flight and is respected by all international airlines serving the Iranian Republic.”

On April 17, the airline will begin three daily fights between Paris and Tehran. This comes eight years after flights were suspended due to international sanctions against Tehran. After Iran agreed to shrink its nuclear program in January, those sanctions were lifted.