When you call Tehran of its citizens to austerity, support and encourage local products and boycott foreign ones. The image of an Iranian official’s family while shopping in Turkey sparked controversy in the Iranian street and on social media.
Activists on the communication sites circulated pictures of the wife, daughter and son-in-law of the Iranian parliament speaker, Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, upon their return from shopping in Turkey.
The pictures showed the return of Zahra Musheer, Qalibaf’s wife, with her daughter and son-in-law from Istanbul, carrying goods far exceeding the permissible weight.
“unforgivable error”
The photo caused an uproar and wide reactions on the communication sites, forcing his son, Elias Qalibaf, to describe the trip as an “unforgivable mistake.”
corrupt files
In turn, the Iranian activist, Waheed Ashtari, published for the first time the news of the Qalibaf family’s trip to Turkey, and he tweeted that the identities of the three and their relationship with the Iranian parliament speaker became clear when they returned with a large shipment of goods for a new baby.
While most of the site’s visitors commented by saying that officials are calling on Iranian citizens to be austere while they live a life of extravagance.
The name of Qalbibaf and his wife, Zahraa Mushir, was mentioned in a number of corruption files.
Qalibaf criticized overseas shopping
The family’s travel comes as Qalibaf sharply criticized the import of baby supplies and children’s clothing from abroad during the 2016 election debate.
Qalibaf had said in the debate: “The Minister of Education (in Rouhani’s government) brings children’s clothes from Italy, and the people believe that our economy will be fine… never,” according to what the website “Iran International” reported.
Meanwhile, some political activists in Iran called for the resignation of the Iranian parliament speaker.
It is noteworthy that the Iranian economy suffers from severe inflation and a high unemployment rate, which were compounded by Washington’s sanctions on the Iranian financial and oil sectors, which led to a sharp decline in the value of the local currency exchange (the riyal).
