Women at the forefront in Iran

The regime's inhumane behaviour towards women, based on medieval dogmas, has finally triggered a new wave of public protests. These protests quickly spread to nationwide demonstrations targeting the entire mullahs' regime.

Through its policies of sexual discrimination, notably through the compulsory wearing of the veil, the theocratic regime has always tried to contain the protesting tendencies of a society made explosive by the imperialism and corruption of the authorities. This excessive zeal to enforce laws from another time has finally wearied the people who, following the anger of the women in the forefront, are now demanding with one voice the end of the theocracy in its integrity.

A history of courage, dreams and bloodshed

It was the women who helped motivate the people as a whole to express their anger against the regime and to participate in the demonstrations. In dozens of cases, people arrested by the police or by the Bassidj militias of the IRGC or the Ministry of Intelligence were released thanks to the counter-offensives led by the women, taking the youth with them. It is because women resist that everyone else follows.

Iranian women have long been fighting and shedding blood for their freedom. They already played a major role in the overthrow of the Shah's dictatorship, and barely a month into the mullahs' rule, they were protesting against the forced wearing of the hijab. In a sign of social concern, on 11 March 1979, the MEK issued the following statement: "Any form of compulsory wearing of the hijab is unacceptable. [...] Our revolution must not deprive women of any of their political, legal and social rights." MEK supporters were at the forefront of the demonstration against compulsory veiling.

Since the 1980s, the regime has killed thousands of women activists and tortured tens of thousands more in the heart of its prisons. The year 1988 remains without doubt the regime's bloodiest year. Women from the MEK and other democratic organisations figured prominently among the 30,000 people slaughtered by the regime in Iranian prisons for no other reason than their refusal to give up their calls for freedom and equality.

A legacy of courage

Today's women and girls who stand up to the regime's brutal repressive forces have inherited the same pedigree of courage and resilience. The Iranian woman as a historical identity did not emerge yesterday; her steely character was forged over 120 years of struggle for democracy in Iran. Her eyes have been laser-focused on overthrowing a regime that is now terrified of its resolve.

The uprising communicates with its members, the world and the enemy in the language of slogans. This language is crystal clear, crystal clear. A language that the enemy in power cannot subvert. The slogans "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei", the main slogans of the demonstrators, convey a strong political message. Again, it was the women who made it possible for these slogans to be widely spread among the revolted population.

The fact that the democratic opposition leader is a woman, Maryam Rajavi, has inspired generations of women to know their rights, to empower themselves and to persevere in their struggle at all costs. As early as 1996, in a speech to 25,000 people at Earl Court in London, Maryam Rajavi denounced the regime: "The misogynist mullahs are determined to destroy the rights and freedoms of Iranian women and trample on their dignity. In this way, they want to strengthen the pillars of their authoritarian regime. To the misogynist mullahs, I must say that you are completely wrong; you will never achieve your desires. You have used all forms of humiliation, oppression, repression, torture and murder against Iranian women. But be sure that you will receive the fatal blow from those you never count. Of course, your reactionary nature does not allow you to consider them. But be sure that your dominant hegemonic regime will be overwhelmed by the conscious and free women of Iran."

HAMID ENAYAT
Political scientist, collaborates with the Iranian democratic opposition (CNRI)