Reactions to Zahra Pezeshkian’s Chador at Shanghai Summit

WANA (Sep 07) – At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China, cameras captured a striking scene — a blend of politics, power, and symbolism — as world leaders stood together during a military parade.

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Masoud Pezeshkian, other heads of state, and their spouses appeared side by side for official photographs. Among them stood a figure who drew particular attention: Zahra Pezeshkian, the Iranian president’s daughter, whose distinctive choice of attire — the black chador — stood out in every frame.

Her presence during the group photos and the leaders’ joint procession attracted the attention of journalists and quickly became a talking point worldwide, sparking debates across social media platforms — especially in Muslim-majority countries.

Arab users, particularly Shi’a communities, praised her outfit, calling it al-‘abayah al-Zaynabiyyah (“the Zaynab-style chador”). Many celebrated the fact that the front rows of a major geopolitical event were adorned with a woman in a black chador.

Zahra Pezeshkian at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China. Social media/ WANA News Agency

One user wrote: “To be honest, this is something to be proud of. Amid the chaos and moral decay among top leaders from Russia, China, and others, and during a military parade no less, Zahra Pezeshkian, daughter of Iran’s president, appeared in a chador. It neither prevented her from being present nor from pursuing her goals in life.”

An Iraqi user reflected: “Watching the clip of Zahra Pezeshkian in China reminded me of many things — of girls who immediately remove their hijab when traveling abroad, of those who switch to casual clothing as soon as they enter university under the excuse that campus life is different, and of those who call the chador a backward or regressive garment.”

Another Arab commentator highlighted Iran’s geopolitical stance: “Iran is not a secondary player in the Eastern bloc but an inseparable part of it. Zahra Pezeshkian’s chador, displayed on a stage shared by the world’s top military commanders and political leaders, sent a powerful message: Iran will not be absorbed into an Eastern model, just as it has not been erased by a Western one. This was a visual declaration that the West no longer holds a monopoly over the main stage.”

The Iraqi Telegram channel, with over 50,000 members, remarked: “Groups like ISIS once marginalized women, but for the first time in Shia history, a woman in a chador stood with pride among world leaders. Zahra, the president’s daughter, accompanied him. She speaks fluent English and Arabic and holds a PhD in chemistry.”

Zahra Pezeshkian at At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China and Military parade. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Another media outlet wrote poetically: “Zahra Pezeshkian wore the chador like a crown and a banner draped across her shoulders. She stood proudly to declare: I am here, and my chador only adds to my dignity.”

Some Arabic channels even gave her the title Umm Abiha (“Mother of Her Father”), a term traditionally associated with Lady Fatimah. The post emphasized that President Masoud Pezeshkian, a moderate, allows his daughter freedom in her choice of dress, writing:

“Any girl who sees the chador as a barrier will be convinced, looking at Zahra Pezeshkian, that it is a form of completeness — not an obstacle. A girl does not need to remove her hijab or abandon her cultural and religious traditions to achieve her dreams.”

Iraqi political analyst Majid Alshwaily also weighed in, publishing an essay titled The Chador and Islamic Civilization in Shanghai: “Since the 19th century, it has been customary for the wife of a president or king to accompany him to major events, particularly international summits. While not mandatory, this protocol has remained a diplomatic tradition in many countries, especially in the West.”

Zahra Pezeshkian at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China. Social media/ WANA News Agency

He added that UN reports emphasize women’s central role in development and as guardians of societal values, arguing: “The presence of the Iranian president’s daughter in Beijing is not merely personal — it is a step and a statement, reaffirming Iran’s position and the place of Islamic civilization in the emerging global order.”

Dozens of other outlets — including Al-Qudurat, Trend24, and Al-Sumaria — covered the moment, agreeing that Zahra Pezeshkian’s appearance went far beyond a family photo opportunity.

Whether intentional or not, she has become a cultural and symbolic figure in the Islamic world, revealing a new dimension of religious and social identity. The episode underscores a simple truth: sometimes a single image carries more weight than dozens of official speeches.

Zahra Pezeshkian at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China. Social media/ WANA News Agency