Massoumeh Ebtekar, the head of Iran’s Department of the Environment, has reported on her Facebook page that she will not be speaking at the Friday Mass Prayers in Tehran, despite earlier announcements.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Ebtekar would speak at the Friday Mass Prayers to mark Clean Week, which promotes environmental awareness across the country.
Ebtekar’s anticipated speech was highlighted on social media, and she was said to be on her way to becoming the first woman to speak at Friday Mass Prayers in Iran.
Ebtekar, however, has rejected this description, saying she has already spoken at several Friday Mass Prayers in Norway, South Africa and Sistan-Baluchistan Province. She also noted that conservative politician Maryam Behrouzi and former health minister Marzieh Dastjerdi have also given speeches at Friday Mass Prayers.
In that light, she emphasized that the cancellation of her speech is not “a big deal and will pass.”
Reports indicate that another Department of the Environment official will be speaking at the Mass Prayers.
