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Iranian state TV apologises after domestic abuse victims advised to 'kiss their husband's feet'

Comments called 'nonsense' and 'scary' on social media

Tom Embury-Dennis
Friday 02 February 2018 12:00 GMT
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Iranian state TV show which allegedly gave advice to domestic violence victims
Iranian state TV show which allegedly gave advice to domestic violence victims (Twitter/@saharkhiz)

Iranian state TV has apologised for a segment which featured a relationship expert tell domestic violence victims to kiss their husband's feet.

"Even if your husband is a drug addict, if he beats you, just do it and you will see a miracle in your life," the woman was said to have told viewers.

The segment was aired last week by a state-controlled broadcaster in the central province of Yazd, US state broadcaster Radio Free Europe reported.

The woman advised spouses to “slowly give him a foot massage", before drying his feet and then “kiss his feet”.

This would relieve a husband’s stress, and help prevent strokes and heart attacks, she said.

Her advice was mocked on social media, with some branding the comments “nonsense” and “scary”.

“The world progresses, and in reverse gear we go,” one user wrote.

Isa Saharkhiz, an Iranian dissident journalist, shared the clip on Twitter.

"Establishment feminists: 'If you want your man to be energized for a month, follow the expert's advice,'" he said. "State TV expert calls on women to massage their husbands’ feet and kiss them."

The advice led official broadcasters to apologise, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported.

The organisation run by student volunteers in the country, quoted the Yazd branch of Iranian state TV acknowledge complaints over “fragmented comments” by an “expert”.

It also promised “planning and greater attention in content delivery” in the future.

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