As the clerical regime in Iran celebrates the 40th anniversary of its rule, the people of Iran have been living under the most extreme suppression during the past four decades, something that most people in free and democratic countries simply can not fathom.
Women in Iran have particularly been targeted by a regime that misogyny is woven in its fabrics and oppression and systematic discrimination against women have affected the whole Iranian society.
The NCRI’s Women’s Committee has highlighted the plight of women and works to improve the rights of women in Iran in conjunction with women’s rights organisations across the world.
It has drawn attention to the regime’s ideology, showing that the misogyny dates back well before the Islamic Revolution. In 1962, Khomeini wrote to the Shah advising him that the “interests of the state are better served by preserving the religious teachings of Islam and calmness of the heart”, concluding that the women’s right to vote should not be recognized.
In 1979, almost immediately after the February revolution, Khomeini abolished the Family Protection Law – a law that gave women family rights. Very soon after, social services for women were cancelled and female judges were dismissed and prevented from working in the judiciary.
Over the years, the regime cracked-down on women imposing the obligatory veiling and allowing women who were deemed improperly covered to be attacked in the street. The Women’s Committee recalled that in 2014 there were a number of acid attacks and stabbings of women. Worse, these attacks were carried out by gangs backed by the government.
It is believed that at least 87 women have been executed since current president Hassan Rouhani took the office. During the eighties, tens of thousands of women – members of the PMOI – were executed or killed simply for carrying out their right to freedom of expression. Many of these women were elderly mothers and grandmothers, some were even pregnant women and others were just teenagers.
Despite the regime’s attempts to silence women, the women of Iran have made it very clear that they will continue to make their voices heard despite the consequences. Iranian society as a whole benefits from the input of the strong and determined Iranian women.
With the leadership of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI also values women, ensuring that they will never be excluded from being heard and treated as equals.
Women in Iran, with the full support of the Iranian Resistance, are “paying the price for freedom to turn the page of history in their homeland”. They are ensuring that their daughters and granddaughters in years to come will be able to enjoy a rightful place in society alongside their male counterparts.
The Women’s Committee and the women, and men, on the streets in Iran are fighting against violence towards women, against forced marriages of young girls, and for the protection of women.
Khomeini said that equality between women and men is “in fundamental violation of some of the most crucial rulings of Islam and in defiance of some of the explicit commandments of the Quran.” This is, however, just the fundamentalist and reactionary ideology of Khomeini and his followers and the NCRI has on many occasions criticized the regime for such a misogynistic interpretation of Islam.
Under the rule of clerical regime in Iran violence against women and other forms of misogyny is still systemic in many places.
To the rest of the world, the Iranian Regime pretends that they are committed to women’s rights but this could not be further from the truth. In reality, misogyny runs rampant, women are considered the property of their closest male relative and have no legal rights.
(Source: NCRI)