PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIOGRAPHY AND TWITTER

TEHRAN, Iran— Tennis star Serena Williams has received support over her recent catsuit controversy from the unlikeliest of sources — the former Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Concerns were raised this week when the French Tennis Federation’s president said that the full-length outfit Williams wore at this year’s French Open would no longer be allowed. Williams, who said she wore the outfit appeared to shrug off the decision.

“Why is the French Open disrespecting Serena Williams? Unfortunately, some people in all Countries including my Country, haven’t realized the true meaning of freedom,” tweeted Ahmadinejad on Monday.

Users on Twitter quickly pointed to the for health reasons, irony of Ahmadinejad commenting on freedom of attire having presided over a country that enforces an Islamic dress code and requires women to wear a headscarf in public.