THE WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION OF IRAN

Since the inception of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the formation of the Islamic Constitution on 2-3rd December 1979, the Iranian women have been subject to the extreme Islamic laws including discrimination and exclusion from normal human rights set by democratic societies by enforcing mandatory cover (Hijab) since the beginning of this regime despite the roles of Iranian women in bringing this system of government to power. Hijab was one of the insignificant legislation enforced compared to all other in-humane laws against Iranian women. Any civil movement by the Iranian women was faced with severe and harsh Sharia law punishment and long-term jail for the Iranian women movements. Massive women demonstrations were faced with slaughtering Iranian women on Tehran street in the 1980’s.

All women right groups were eliminated with severe punishments for their leaders. Women organizations were demonized in society and witch hunt began with the rise of Islamic government and this was only the beginning of this trend. With the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini, women’s roles were either eliminated or limited as they were encouraged to get married at early age and raise large families and tend to household duties.

Large posters and banners on the role of a Muslim Iranian women were all over the Girls High schools and universities enforcing Khomeini’s daily speeches on the importance of Hijab and multi-marriage were dominant pursuing the outdated Mullahs believes making it the most vital role for the Iranian women and young girls. These continues, and daily speeches were supported by making laws and legislation’s in assurance making these speeches to reality and lawful to punish women and young girls if they deviated from their forceful Sharia laws. Following these believes, there were actions leading to the closing of women’s centers, childcare centers and the abolishment of family planning initiatives. These actions resulted in child marriage and further devastation of the Iranian family’s basis increasing legal prostitution. Per reports in the 2017-2018 WPS Index, Iran ranked 116 out of 153 countries in terms of legal discrimination against women and young girls.

The laws restrict Iranian women in pursuing their education, marriage, starting business, applying for a passport, traveling outside the home, choosing where to live, and being head of the household, and their roles in divorce proceeding. Women have no legal protection against domestic violence or sexual harassment by anyone, and the constitution has no non-discrimination clause with gender as a protected category. Restrictions in employment is prominent and there are no laws for protection of Iranian women. The Iranian Civil Code impower a husband to prevent his wife from taking any job found to be incompatible with the family interest (against his will) or the dignity of the husband or his wife. Practically, the men are the sole decision makers in a marriage and the wife is second class in the holy matrimony of Islamic to none when

The world and the democratic EU governments were well informed about these anti-human and anti-women activities of the Islamic regime; however, they were ignoring all these abuses because of their financial gains. In November 2018, the United Nation General Assembly’s Human Rights Committee approved a resolution against Iranian government’s continuous discrimination against women and limitation of freedom of thought. This action along with the pressure from the United States government is finally bringing a sector of the Iranian government to pursue a referendum for Hijab in January of 2019. The Islamic government and Mullahs have made a joke of women’s rights and come-up with temporary solutions for women’s Hijab specifically anytime they have serious challenges such as mess uprising of the Iranian population or economic that they are incapable of facing or resolving. Hajib will become their temporary solution to all serious issues facing the Iranian nation. This topic has been used during the past forty years and continues to become a main topic for the government when they are incapable of finding solutions to their incompetency regarding social and economical problems and this is to shift the serious social issues to Hijab. The point is to occupy media’s attention and distract the Iranian population from their main objectives which is the Islamic regime itself. These temporary theocratical shifts don’t have any place in today’s Iranian political environment and major changes are necessary requiring more drastic actions than just a show of Hijab.

We, the Iranian Women Voice believe that the timing of these types of political posture for your gain is over. We will not accept the results of your referendum for Hijab which already has started with your predicted outcome and it is happening under your watch. The Iranian women cannot honestly vote while under dictatorship and treat of harsh punishment by your security police. The entire legislation’s (since 1979) passed by the Islamic government and are against women and Iranian families must be abandoned and dismantled. they are considered anti-human laws according to the democratic society’s standards. We believe that the Islamic Sharia laws are non-functional in 21st century society and must be eliminated. The Iranian women need the freedom and deserve to pursue their destinies and these rights canNOT be accomplished under this system of government.