Yesterday, the streets of Tehran were full of riot police who were busy with dancing and celebration. The football team whose name is Iran won the World Cup mach against another team whose name is Wales. The images we see from Tehran make me extremely angry. Oppressors rejoice while they kill people in the streets for demanding happiness and freedom. I put the pictures together. From a policeman who shoots people with a shotgun to another policeman holding a horn and cheering on top of a bus that transports riot police!
The scene is painful, the murderer of the people is dancing. Alongside this horrible image, patriotism and nationalism also has its own manifestation. Where the riot police are happy for Iran while they are shedding Iranian blood on the ground! He is singing the praises of the people, as if he wants to say: “I killed and I am happy to kill.” In their side, those who rebel against God’s government are not Iranians! However, this symbolic scene also announces the fall of the regime in the most pitiful way.
I find myself in Athens. Feminist collectives have called for demonstrations for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. They have not yet entered the street when the riot police appeared. Several people try to open the banner, but a riot police starts hitting a activist with his shield. Anyway, the banner opens and they start moving. Why are so many policemen on the street? Should we consider that the police accompany the demonstration? And why not! Wait a little until you reach Syndagma!
Slogans are chanted until we reach with Zhen, Zhian, Azadi. This is the voice of the Iranian revolution that resonated in Athens.
As we approach Syndagma Square, I unconsciously laugh. The repressive government, the government that sent so many policemen against a demo about women violence, displays a phone number on the wall of the parliament and suggests that if a woman experiences violence, she can call the number! Can they call now and complain that they are experiencing violence in this square?
The political structure, which itself is the main perpetrator of violence against women, has appeared as a protector and advocate, even as riot police have overwhelmed everywhere. A government that supports the aggressor.
Of course, both governments have many differences in form, but the reality of the matter is the sharing of political-economic opinion and traditions about women and women’s rights. The Islamic Republic, where gender apartheid is a norm, relies more on the position of women than anything else for its survival. In Greece, where women are supposed to be given equal rights, she still plays the role of a misogynist.
And unlike Tehran, which brought female riot police to the streets in the first days of the protests, in Greece still don’t have female riot police. Where is the equality? Last night in Athens, the police riot just didn’t have a horn in their hands to cheer about feminism!
What you think?