Women
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The UN meeting on Afghanistan in Doha coincides with protests by Afghan women against Taliban rule. Parwana Ibrahim Khail, a known journalist and women’s rights activist, shared her experiences of imprisonment and torture under the Taliban, including a stoning sentence for alleged apostasy. Despite international outcry and support for these women, the Taliban continue to enforce repressive measures, including the educational ban on girls and closure of women-oriented businesses, violating human rights. The latest WPS index ranked Afghan women’s condition as the worst globally. Activists criticize the UN for not inviting Taliban opposition to the meeting, viewing it as legitimizing…
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Iran’s Deputy Minister of Industry announced the closure of 6,900 industrial units, exacerbating unemployment and poverty, with women hit hardest. Official data shows women’s employment decreasing, with informal jobs, accounting for 70% of employment, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and without legal or social protections. The patriarchal and misogynistic culture systematically oppresses women, marginalizing them from decision-making and pushing them into unpaid domestic labor. Gender inequality is institutionalized in laws and governance, leading Iran to rank 143 in the 2023 global gender gap report.
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The history of Balochistan is deeply intertwined with the experiences of its women, whose stories of resistance and resilience offer valuable insights into the region’s cultural, social, and political landscape. Baloch women have been pivotal in movements against oppression, mitigating human rights abuses, and challenging authoritarian regimes, particularly in the Zhina movement and protests for the disappeared. Despite grappling with gender, religious, national, and class challenges, their increasing visibility in the political field is shifting Balochistan towards progressive, secular change. The article illustrates their vital role within the anti-colonial and liberation movements, breaking the silence on women’s issues traditionally ignored…
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24-year-old Mohammed Ghobadlou was executed in Iran for alleged involvement in protests after Mahsa/Jina Amini’s death. He faced charges of murder and Moharebeh, driving into police and causing death and injuries. His trial lacked proper legal representation, and his execution, the ninth linked to protests, followed dubious judicial processes, sparking international concern and domestic strikes and protests. The government’s crackdown, including capital punishment, was criticized for lack of transparency and due process. Human rights organizations call for an end to executions, as they mostly target the impoverished, oppressed, or dissenting individuals, and equate state killings to murder.
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Roya Heshmati’s story, an opponent of the compulsory Hijab in Iran, has sparked significant attention on social media. Roya, 33, lives in Tehran but is originally from Sanandaj. On her Facebook, she shared her experience at the District Court of Area 7 on the 13th of Dey. She was there for her sentencing, where she received a punishment of 74 lashes for not wearing the compulsory hijab. A few months prior, after a photo of Roya without the compulsory Hijab circulated in Tehran, she was given a sentence by the Islamic Revolutionary Court. This included one year of suspended imprisonment,…
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On the occasion of the anniversary of the inception of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, the Islamic regime deployed a substantial military presence in an attempt to instill fear among the populace. The citizens, however, keenly assess the distribution of power but have shed their apprehension. They no longer live in fear, but they are acutely aware that a formidable and challenging struggle lies ahead.
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The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) has released a damning report on the alarming increase in cases of abduction, torture, and killing of children by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran. The report highlights the worsening situation since September 2022, following the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini while in government custody.
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Iranian parliament members suggest that if the Taliban continues to restrict women’s education, Iran’s universities can assist them. However, they also suggest that the availability of education should be balanced with existing resources and conditions, and private universities could be a viable option for women’s education. In Iran, the government has been promoting the privatization of education for years. While Taliban deny education to women in Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran may permit them to receive study visas and attend private schools and colleges, as long as they can afford it.
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The head of the Judicial Commission of the Islamic Council of Iran has announced an alarming development: non-compliance with the hijab will soon result in an SMS warning, followed by fines and the blocking of the offender’s national ID card, rendering them unable to access social services until the imposed fine is paid. This plan is being unveiled at a time when reports from Iran indicate that many women have been emboldened to shed the mandatory hijab, particularly following widespread protests.
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A global network of feminist collectives and activists, known as “Feminists for Jina,” is amplifying the voice of the ongoing “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” Revolution in Iran and working to strengthen its transnational elements. The group comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, united in their goal to fight for equality and freedom.
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In a powerful display of collective action, teachers across Iran have taken to the streets to demand the safety and security of female students in their schools. Undeterred by the repressive forces and uniforms of the Islamic Council in Tehran, these educators have rallied in dozens of cities, from Mashhad to Isfahan, to decry the spread of chemical attacks on their students.
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The “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, which involved removing the hijab, tearing pictures of Khamenei and Khomeini, and chanting slogans mostly in girls’ schools, has infuriated the regime to such an extent that they have given the green light to use their powers to retaliate against this uprising. This is a longstanding behavior in the history of the Islamic Republic, with examples including serial murders, gang killings, and acid attacks against women in Isfahan. These actions are deeply disturbing and cause terror among the people.