Women and over forty years of anti-women rule in the Islamic Republic
The Islamic Republic of Iran, establishing and consolidating its rule after the revolution, sought to suppress dissident political parties, and in this regard, all aspects of the political, social, cultural, and public life of the citizens were repressed and suppressed. For more than 40 years of its rule, it has brought nothing but oppression and discrimination to the people of this country, and in particular to women. In line with the policy of suppressing and disregarding women’s rights and the keeping of women in their homes, however, the movements of resistance and the struggle of freedom-loving women against the anti-woman policies of the regime have continued.
Hundreds of Kurdish women wore Peshmerga sacred clothing to defend the homeland as the Islamic State invaded the Kurdish territory. Many women and girls sacrificed their precious lives for the liberation of their land and nation. As they fought for their rights, defending their land and homeland, they fought on the other side of the battle against society’s misconduct and were confronted continuously with problems and obstacles both by the society and by the Iranian regime. During this time, hundreds of Kurdish women were arrested by the security services of the Islamic Republic for allegedly seeking equality and working for their rights. As a result, they were sentenced to long prison terms, and some even executed.
From the very beginning, the Islamic Republic began a policy of discrimination against women. When it came to power in February 1979, it enacted a set of laws in March of that year that went against the aims of the revolution and against women in general. The regime abolished the Family Protection Law on February 25th, abolished women’s rights on March 3rd, the same year, and abolished the military service law and several other duties and activities on March 6th. Also, on March 7th, Khomeini issued a mandatory veil law on women. These laws and several other conservative laws against women were enacted, and other laws that further perpetuated discrimination between men and women.
For instance, the gender-based design of educational centers and schools, and the exclusion of women from participation in many disciplines – since the high acceptance of girls in universities by the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran was perceived as a threat- so over the past few years, through gender segregation and exclusion of girls from some academic disciplines, they have attempted to prevent girls from going to universities and made some of the disciplines mono-gendered so that women cannot continue their education in thess fields.
Governance has, at any rate, counteracted the distinctive culture of the people. The reactionary view of the Islamic Republic of Iran on women and the law on forced veil has restricted women’s representation in most areas, particularly the representation of women in sports. Women are banned from visiting sport arenas and cannot participate in sports competitions like men do, and are denied participation in most sports both domestically and globally. The issues mentioned are part of the problem regarding women and sport; aprt from them women are facing many obstacles in other areas of Iranian society as well; in the social field, over the past few years police is using the project called “moral security”! to arrest women and girls in groups and sends them to prisons.
On the other hand, the restrictions imposed on women in art, especially singers and actors, are significant. For example, banning concerts and dissolving many of their activities and not cooperating with them has led to the disintegration of women’s artistic movements, like many other activities in the country, and many have either abandoned their aspirations or have had to leave the country.
The Islamic Republic has also, for the past few years, continued to take actions to ban or halt women’s organizations. Unfortunately, it is now clear that there are a handful of women’s organizations in Iran, and women’s magazines which were published by those organizations have been stopped.
Under the rule of the Islamic Republic of Iran, women’s position in the political arena is also at a lower level, it’s true that women women have the right to be nominated, but they must go through a guardianship filter that does not believe in women’s ability; and many of them are disqualified. By the way according to the laws of this regime, women are not allowed to become president or leader.
On the other hand, it is clear that women are being ruled by this regime as men’s weapons, limited by any progress, their use has been limited to the proximity of the homes, to serve their husbands, carry children and handle domestic chores. And violence against them is prevelant, as a result of which no legal protection is provided but rather the imprisonment of women in the social arena has meant even more women are forced into becoming economically dependent on men even if they are being abused in some instances. The Islamic Republic’s policies and actions have harmed women, in terms of their economic and psychological dependence on men; they are deprived of all forms of insurance and legal protection in the aftermath of the disasters.
This collection and several other cases of human rights violations have been the product of 40 years of Islamic Republic’s reign. Where women have tried to prosper and grow, they have been restricted through all means necessary.
Translated By:Houshyar Honar Pajooh
