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When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi
figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da
qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so
called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali
November 25, 2023 - International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women
YPJ Women combatants
Jinha - Womens News Agency - 25 Nov 2023
<<YPJ International calls on all women to unite
News Center- The international unit of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ)
has released a written statement to mark the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women. <We greet you from the heart of
the women's revolution, from the liberated areas of North and East
Syria, also known as Rojava. We, as international women, came here to
take the dreams and seeds of the revolution in Rojava to our countries
and plant them there,> the statement said. Emphasizing that they went to
Rojava over the call of an organization aiming to rebuild a free life,
the statement said, <This is the place where the most brutal attacks of
ISIS were defeated, where thousands of women such as Martyr Hêlin from
England, Martyr Ivana from Germany, Martyr Legerin from Argentina, Ceren
from Turkey, Martyr Avesta from Kurdistan fought against the atrocity of
ISIS. Despite the ongoing attacks of the Turkish state aiming to kill
and displace people, the number of the resisting women increases every
day. Because this violence is seen as normal everywhere, but not for us.
That's why we came here.
'Women write their history'
<We decided to fight by standing with the women of Rojava. The people of
Rojava fight to have a life with dignity and fight the lethal mentality
that exists all over the world. The women of Rojava decided to take up
arms and found their own defense units. In Rojava, women decided to
defend themselves by takşng part in military and politics. In Rojava,
women lead the revolution and write their history, the history of
women.>
Call on all women
In the statement, the YPJ International also called on all women to
unite against gender-based violence. <The women's voice for freedom in
Rojava echoes all over the world. And we follow this voice. We no longer
accept to be killed, oppressed, raped, sold, tortured and arrested. We
organize and defend ourselves. We fight and struggle. We follow in the
footsteps of all the women who resist, unite and struggle against the
oppressive and patriarchal mindset. We call on all women to unite
against gender-based violence and femicide. We change the 'Jin, Jiyan,
Azadi' slogan against all forms of violence and occupation.> >>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/ypj-international-calls-on-all-women-to-unite-34200?page=1
Marriage of girl-children in Iran
NCRI - Womens committee - 27 Nov 2023 - in Articles, in Women's
News
<<Marriage of girl children, a devastating end to childhood
Marriage of girl children, or child marriage, is one of the worst
forms of violence against young girls which has been institutionalized
in the clerical regime's laws and constitution in Iran. It has become
commonplace due to the spread of poverty under the mullahs' rule. During
the 16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women and girls,
we will discuss the various forms of violence against women and girls in
Iran. Violence against women exists everywhere. The difference in Iran
is that such violence is state-sanctioned and institutionalized in the
regime's laws and constitution. Marriage of girl children, or child
marriage, does not have cultural roots in Iran. They have turned into a
social catastrophe due to the policies of the mullahs' regime. Under the
clerical regime's laws, 9-year-old girls are viewed as adults without
consideration of their intellectual or social maturity, or even their
physical development. According to the Iranian regime's laws, the legal
age for marriage for girls is 13 years old. However, the practice of
marrying young girls and subjecting them to sexual assault is cloaked
under the title of <wife.> Article 1041 of the Civil Code permits the
marriage of girls under the age of 13 with the court's approval, consent
from the guardian, and the vague requirement of <observance of
expediency.> In Iran, mothers lack the right to influence the fate of
their children. The civil law grants authority to fathers, paternal
grandfathers, and judges to compel girls into marriage at any age.
Government experts suggest that economic poverty is the primary reason
families acquiesce to marrying off their daughters. The child's father,
mother, or guardian often demands dowry and payments from the man’s
family for their daughter's marriage (The state-run Baharnews.ir,
January 30, 2020).
The Escalating Marriage of Girl Children in Iran
A review of annual statistics paints a troubling picture,
revealing that over the past decade, more than 15,000 girls under the
age of 15 have given birth in Iran. Furthermore, data from the Iranian
Civil Registry Organization spanning from 2013 to 2020 suggests that
over one million girls under the age of 18 were married in Iran. (The
state-run ISNA news agency, April 13, 2022). According to the latest
report from the Iranian National Statistics Center (NSC), between the
winter of 2022 and the end of the fall of 2022, no fewer than 27,448
marriages of girl children involving girls under the age of 15 were
registered in various parts of Iran. The state-run Arman-e Melli daily
reported on July 27, 2021, that in every 24 hours, 100 marriages of girl
children under the age of 15 are registered in Iran.
Marriage of girl-children in Iran - child-pregnancy
Of great concern is that the majority of these married girls
become mothers at a very young age. A May 2022 report from the
Registration Organization revealed that, in 2021, at least 69,103 babies
were born to mothers between the ages of 10 to 19, with 1,474 babies
born to mothers aged 10 to 14. (The state-run Etemadonline.com, May 21,
2023)
The Grave Consequences of Child Marriage on Girls' Physical and
Mental Well-being
Child marriage constitutes violence against children.
Unfortunately, the incentives for the marriage of girl children have
increased, with many girls experiencing sexual intercourse with
considerably older men, constituting sexual violence against a child. It
is accompanied by coercion, verbal abuse, forced denial of education,
and manipulation, which systematically strip these children of their
rights. In many cases, these young brides don't even realize their
rights have been denied. (The state-run salamatnews.ir, March 7, 2022)
Statistics reveal that women are more susceptible to contracting
dangerous viruses, including hepatitis and HIV, than men. Furthermore,
the highest number of girls infected with such diseases falls between
the ages of 15 and 24. Hence, child brides are more vulnerable to
various sexually transmitted and life-threatening diseases.
Complications such as high blood pressure during pregnancy, blood
infections, and bleeding are more common among girls under 15, putting
their lives at greater risk, especially as they are more prone to
domestic violence, child abuse, and forced sexual relations and abuse
compared to women married at a suitable age or children living in their
family. (The state-run Baharnews.ir, January 30, 2020) The psychological
consequences of child marriage are equally devastating. Such unions
often separate girls from their childhood, cutting off their
relationships with their family and friends. Instead, they are thrust
into the responsibility of adult life, burdened with household chores
and childcare, which can lead to depression and anxiety. The toll of
these dire conditions can drive many of these girls to run away from
home, attempt suicide, or even harm their spouses due to their inability
to tolerate the unequal circumstances and their inability to resolve
issues. All of this leads to graver consequences for them under the
oppressive rule of the misogynistic mullahs' system. Child widows, whose
lives have barely begun, are yet another sorrowful consequence of these
oppressive rules. In May 2018, a former member of the mullahs'
parliament, Massoumeh Aghapour Alishahi exposed the existence of 24,000
child widows, all under the age of 18. (The state-run ROKNA news agency
- May 28, 2018)
Child abuse and violence against girl children
In Iran, the majority of violence statistics are centered around
incidents of spousal abuse and child abuse, with girls being more often
victimized by child abuse compared to boys. (The state-run ISNA news
agency, May 26, 2018) Government pathologist Morteza Pedarian highlights
that both sexual and physical child abuse can be attributed to
underlying social injustices. He asserts that the structural issues
within our society propel the occurrence of child abuse, sexual abuse,
and child labor. (The state-run imna.ir news agency, October 20, 2020)
The latest statistics provided by the Forensic Medicine Organization
reveal that in 2021, there were approximately 75,000 cases of domestic
violence, including incidents of spousal abuse and child abuse. (The
state-run salameno.com, July 26, 2022) Reza Jafari, the head of social
emergency, expressed his concerns in March 2019, noting that violence in
Iran has become widespread, with no specific geographical boundaries.
(The state-run jahanesanat.ir, November 19, 2020)
Sexual abuse of girl children in Iran
Another distressing consequence of the mullahs' misogynistic rule
in Iran is the pervasive issue of sexual harassment. Sexual assault has
the power to profoundly alter the psychological well-being of the victim
and inflict a range of damages that affect various aspects of their
life. Unfortunately, due to the patriarchal structure under the mullahs'
rule, victims of such abuse are often met with blame and labeling,
causing many cases to remain concealed or undisclosed by the victims and
their families. This situation is exacerbated in Iran, where government
corruption has, in many instances, involved state agents and
institutions in acts of rape and sexual harassment. The state of
available statistics in this area is far from transparent. The clerical
regime is notorious for withholding clear and comprehensive statistics
across all domains, with topics related to sexual harassment being
especially shrouded in taboo within Iranian society. In August 2022, the
media exposed a case of a 55-year-old teacher who had raped 8 to
11-year-old female students in the parking of his house, terrorizing the
children by threatening to pour boiling water on them if they disclosed
the incidents to their parents. Several of these children developed
severe mental disorders, characterized by withdrawal, isolation,
nighttime crying, and an aversion to communicating with others, arousing
suspicion from their families. This man, in court, brazenly asserted
that he had exploited the misogynistic laws of the clerical regime on
temporary marriage (sigheh) to coerce and enslave these girls. Following
legal proceedings, he was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison,
along with a 2-year prohibition from residing in the relevant city. (The
state-run etemadonline.ir, July 24, 2022) Another case that garnered
attention in state media involved a 30-year-old woman who subjected
three girls, aged 8 to 11, to abuse while they worked in her household.
These children hailed from marginalized families in the slums in the
outskirts of Shahriar city. Most of the residents of these peripheral
areas, like Vireh, are immigrants (from other cities or villages). They
grapple with poverty, unemployment, and limited awareness of their
rights. In a particularly distressing case, a 30-year-old woman lured
three girls, two of whom were sisters, into her home by promising them
employment and wages for their families. Tragically, she subjected these
girls to various forms of sexual abuse over a span of four months.
Several months later, a social worker noticed a change in the children's
behavior. Subsequent psychological evaluations confirmed the sexual
abuse they had endured, and the girls began to disclose their harrowing
ordeal. After several painstaking months of legal advocacy and tireless
efforts, the court issued a judgment, albeit lacking an official paper,
proper numbering, or classification. Astonishingly, the ruling merely
imposed a fine of 500,000 tomans, with a generous reduction of 200,000
tomans. Consequently, after inflicting severe physical, psychological,
and future damages upon three young girls, the perpetrator was penalized
with a mere 300,000 tomans and released by the mullahs' Judiciary. (The
state-run didarnews.ir, June 8, 2020) Reza Shafakhah, the lawyer
handling this case, underscored a critical issue in crimes involving
women and children notably that evidence often falls short of
contemporary standards. For instance, one such requirement is the
presence of four virtuous witnesses to substantiate a rape claim. Yet,
it is implausible that such heinous acts would occur in the presence of
four virtuous witnesses. Furthermore, the accused is expected to confess
to the crime, which, in reality, seldom transpires. (The state-run
didarnews.ir, June 8, 2020) As noted in the abovementioned facts and
documentation, the main cause of the problems relating to the marriage
of girl children, and early and forced marriages of young girls, lies in
the laws that sanction them and fail to properly punish the perpetrators
of child abuse. The NCRI Women's Committee urges the UN Special
Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls to examine the cases of
violation of the rights of girl children in Iran and the laws that
sanction early and forced marriage of girl children while failing to
punish the perpetrators of child abuse.>>
Source:
https://women.ncr-iran.org/2023/11/27/marriage-of-girl-children/
Jinha - Womens News Agency - 27 Nov 2023 - by ASMAA FAHTI
<<'The 16 days activism raises awareness against gender-based
violence'
Cairo- The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is
an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and
runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. Globally, one in three women
are subjected to violence at least once across their lifetime; less than
40 percent of women who experience violence seek help from an
institution of any sort, according to the UN Women. NuJINHA spoke to
several women of Cairo about the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence against women.
'Long-term policies should be developed to eliminate gender-based
violence'
Mai Saleh, the gender and institutional support consultant at the
New Woman Foundation (NWF), emphasized the importance of the 16 Days
Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign and said, <The campaign
aims to raise awareness on violence, rights violations and
discrimination against women. The campaign also supports the works of
the women's organizations. As the foundation, we intensify our
activities by joining this campaign every year. One of the measures that
can be taken against violence is legal changes and the other is the
change of society. Long-term policies should be developed to eliminate
gender-based violence.>
'The campaign raises awareness'
Ola Samir Mohamed, chairperson of the Pioneers' Association in
Alexandria, noted that the 16 Days Activism against Gender Based
Violence Campaign is important to raise awareness. <It allows
organizations combating violence against women to be more active and
make women's voices heard all around the world. We know that many women
are not aware that they are subjected to violence because violence is
seen as normal. The campaign raises awareness against gender-based
violence.>
'The campaign is an important and influential campaign'
Damiana Saadi, director of the Welfare Association for Childhood,
Maternity and Children with Special Needs, thinks that the campaign is
very important to raise awareness against gender-based violence. <Our
association holds many activities and events to raise awareness about
the women with special needs and the mothers, who have children with
special needs because they are most vulnerable to all forms of
violence.> >>
Source incl. 2 videos:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/the-16-days-activism-raises-awareness-against-gender-based-violence-34205
NADA
Jinha - Womens News Agency - 25 Nov 2023
<<Message of November 25 from NADA: The perpetrators of war crimes must
be prosecuted
News Center- The statement released by the Democratic Women's Alliance
in the Middle East and North Africa (NADA) to mark the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women pointed to the ongoing
Israel's attacks on the Palestinian people. Reminding Article 6 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the statement said,
<Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the
law; however, Israel does not recognize this right by targeting
hospitals, civilians and civilian settlements in Gaza.>
'Failure to act is a shame for everyone'
Emphasizing that women and children paid the heaviest price in wars and
conflicts, the statement said:
<They (women in war and conflict zones) face tragic situations; they
have to have unsafe abortions and premature births. They have been
killed by radical factions in Syria; they have been mistreated in
Afghanistan. They have been displaced in Afrin, Tel Abyad, Gaza, the
West Bank and Sudan. They have been killed in Libya.
'The West: Not Seeing; Speaking or Listening'
The western feminists, who stood with Ukrainian women during the
Russia-Ukraine war, have not stood for the women in the Middle East.
Although they see how the people in Gaza are killed every day, they
remain silent. Failure to act is a shame for everyone. As NADA, we
condemn the crimes committed against Palestinians.>
Call on the international community
In the statement, the NADA called on everyone to be in solidarity with
the people of Gaza and the international community to <stand against the
massacres committed against Palestinians>. <Although the international
law and the Geneva Conventions have been violated in Gaza, the
international community and human rights organizations remain silent.>
>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/message-of-november-25-from-nada-the-perpetrators-of-war-crimes-must-be-prosecuted-34197?page=1
Opinion by Gino d'Artali: I so much agree with NADA and especially with
what the statement says about the Western feminists. So much even that I
in the last trimester of 2022 decided to stop being a feminist caller in
the Western desert i.e. stopped reporting about the 'activities' of
Western organisations, 'action groups' and what have you not and
concentrate/report fully about the feminist actions in the Middle east
and this also after the heinous killing of our Iranian sister Jina Amini
(Link to ....). And after this wake-up call I feel so much more stronger
as a feminist and the, by each day passing, the growing motivation to
keep fighting and reporting as a man and a womens' rights activist. Long
live a free woman. And to really understand why I as a man do what I do
one should read a poem I wrote based on what my dearest mother Gianna
d'Artali and I, as a child/teenager, had to go through: "30 frames a
second"
www.cryfreedom.net//slaughterhouse-rape.htm
Jin, Jiyan, Azadi 25 Nov 1023
Jinha - Womens News Agency - 25 Nov 2023
<<Women march in Van: We will break the isolation and attain freedom
News Center- Women kicked off their activities for the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Van by holding a march
from Hayat Hospital to Musa Anter Peace Park.. After the march, they
gathered at the park and a press statement was read by People’s Equality
and Democracy Party (HEDEP) Van provincial co-chair Gonul Uzunay.
'We strengthen our struggle'
<We remember with respect the women, who lost their lives while
struggling for women's freedom all around the world. We feel and share
the pain of the women, children and people in Afghanistan, Rojhilat,
Palestine and Rojava. 63 years have passed since the Mirabal Sisters
were killed while resisting the Trujillo's dictatorship. Every year on
November 25, women all around the world come together to raise their
voices against gender-based violence. We strengthen our struggle against
the exploitation, slavery of women and femicide,> said the statement.
'We will break the isolation'
Reminding the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah
Ocalan, Gonul Uzunay said <Women will break the isolation and attain
freedom.> She added, <War and chaos in the Middle East are deepened day
by day and all fundamental rights and freedoms are suspended. As women,
we know that the isolation imposed on Mr. Ocalan is related to his
paradigm of women's freedom. We say again: Mr. Ocalan is the key for the
solution to the war and chaos in the Middle East and to the Kurdish
question. We are determined to break the isolation and build a free life
for women.>
'The 21st century will be the century of women's freedom'
Gonul Uzunay emphasized that the 21st century will be the century of
women's freedom. <Women should unite and struggle to turn the 21st
century into the century of women's revolution.> >>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/women-march-in-van-we-will-break-the-isolation-and-attain-freedom-34199
25 November 2023
Hengaw Organisation for Human Right - Nov 25 2023
<<Hengaw's exclusive report on the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women and Women's Rights in Iran
Citing the data recorded by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights,
approaching the 25th of November, the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, from the beginning of 2023 to
date, 104 women have been killed in Iran. Within the same timeframe, 16
women have faced execution, and 128 female activists have received
sentences ranging from flogging to imprisonment and execution.
Additionally, in the current year alone, at least 308 female activists
have been detained in Iran. November 25th has been designated as the
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women since
1981. This day serves to emphasize global commitment to combating
gender-based violence, commemorating the brutal murder of the <Mirabal
sisters,> political activists from the Dominican Republic. Feminist
movements and gender equality advocates globally organize various
campaigns around this date to raise awareness about gender-based
violence. Women in Iran not only face decades of restrictions under the
Islamic Republic but have become more suppressed in the aftermath of the
government's crackdown following the state-sponsored murder of Jina
Amini, intensifying the oppression against women and gender equality
activists.
Honor killings
104 women were killed in less than 11 months; over 32% of these murders
were motivated by so-called honor killings
According to the data from the Center of Data and Statistics of the
Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, 104 women have been killed in Iran
since the beginning of 2023. At least 34 women, constituting 32.5% of
the total, were killed under the label of what is commonly referred to
as <honor.> Tehran registered the highest number of murders, with 19
cases, equivalent to 18.2% of the total. Furthermore, 14 cases of
women's killings were reported in West Azerbaijan (Urmia), out of which
9 were honor killings, indicating the highest incidence of such murders
in this province. Kermanshah recorded 8 cases of femicide, while Fars
and Karaj each reported 7 cases.
Domestic killings in Iran
Almost half of the women killed were murdered by their husbands,
accounting for 47% of the total cases. Additionally, 8 women were killed
by ex-husbands and 5 by their fiancés. Between partners, the highest
number of <honor> killings were committed by their immediate family
members, such as fathers or brothers, constituting 24 cases of these
killings. Other instances of femicide were carried out by individuals
closely associated with the victims.
Femicide in Iran
Femicide represents the most heinous form of violence against women,
with the highest levels of misogyny. Contrary to prevailing beliefs, not
all femicide is honor-based, and honor killings do not exclusively
pertain to women. Instead, honor killings constitute a subset of
femicides, where the victims may also include men murdered by others,
generally men, for reasons defined as <honorable.> The increased
reporting of femicides in recent years may not necessarily indicate a
rise in actual occurrences but could be a result of heightened media
awareness following the murders of Romina and the state-sponsored
femicide of Jina Amini, creating a surge in the media coverage of
femicide cases.
Jina Amini
16 women were executed in less than 11 months
Executions
According to Hengaw's statistics, at least 16 women have been executed
in various prisons in Iran since the beginning of this year. Out of
these, 3 women were convicted of drug trafficking offenses, and 11 were
sentenced to death for premeditated homicide by the judicial system of
the Islamic Republic of Iran. Among these 16 executions, 4 cases were
recorded in Isfahan's prison, and Kerman, Mashhad, and Rajaei Shahr
prisons each reported 2 cases. Prisons in Khash, Birjand, Zahedan, Yasuj,
Hamedan, and Qom also recorded two cases each.
128 cases of convictions for capital punishment, imprisonment, and
flogging
According to Hengaw's statistics, in the past 11 months, at least 127
female activists across Iran have been sentenced to imprisonment by the
judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Five of them,
identified as Fatemeh Mehri from ShahreKord, Leila Mansour, Natasha
Khodaverdi Javadi, Mojgan Ilanlou, and Fernaz Hassanzadeh from Tehran,
and Mina Yaghoubi from Arak, Paria Karim Adnani from Saqqez, and Laleh
Vahabi from Talesh, have been additionally sentenced to flogging, of
which Laleh Vahabi's flogging sentence has already been carried out.
Moreover, a Kurdish female activist known as Nasim Namazi has been
sentenced to execution by the third branch of the Revolutionary Court in
Urmia. Among the total of 128 women activists sentenced to imprisonment,
21 were Baha'i adherents, and 19 were Kurdish activists. Of those who
were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging, 28 were detained for
participating in the <Jin, Jian, Azadi> Movement.
308 cases of detention of women activists Since the beginning of the
year
Based on Hengaw's recorded statistics, from the beginning of this year
until now (328 days), at least 308 female activists across Iran have
been detained by the security forces and organizations of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. Out of the total detained women, 89, equivalent to 29%
of all cases, were Kurdish women activists. Additionally, 50 Baha'i-adherent
women activists, constituting 16% of the total, have been detained in
various cities in Iran.
hijab attack that lead to the killing of Armita Gevarnand
During the <Jin, Jian, Azadi> movement and its aftermath, the Islamic
Republic's government has intensified the suppression of women in
general and women activists in particular. This comes despite the fact
that none of the societal and legal demands of women have been accepted
by the Islamic Republic. On the contrary, with the presence of <hijab>
enforcers known as <Morality Police> in Tehran's subways, it is evident
that a segment of women, who in past years risked unveiling despite all
dangers, are now intended to face more extensive and severe
surveillance. The presentation of the "Hijab and Modesty" plan also
indicates the government's intention to significantly broaden the social
suppression of women in Iranian society.>>
Source:
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2023/11/hengaws-exclusive-report-on-the-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women-and-womens-rights-in-iran
Right to left Rozerin Gultekin Zeynep Durgut and Ömer Akın
Jinha - Womens News Agency - 25 Nov 2023
<<3 journalists detained in Şırnak
Şırnak- Police attacked women holding a march in the city of Şırnak to
mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women. Police detained Jinnews reporter Rozerin Gültekin, Mesopotamia
Agency (MA) reporters Zeynep Durgut and Ömer Akın and many women. The
names of some detained women are: Silopi Co-mayor Adalet Fidan; People's
Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) İdil Co-chair Elfesya Nas; Free
Women's Movement (TJA) activist Guler Tunç; Democratic Regions Party (DBP)
Cizre Co-chair Zilan Yaman; former İdil Co-mayor Songul Erden; Peoples'
Democratic Party (HDP) İdil Co-chair Evin Erden; HDP Silopi Co-chair
Asuman Kulter and a woman named Songul Kuçuk.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency.com/en/actual/3-journalists-detained-in-Sirnak-34202
NCRI - Womens committee - 24 Nov 2023 - in Women's News
<<Women and Girls in Iran Struggle Against State-Sanctioned,
Institutionalized Violence
As we approach the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women
and Girls and the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, it becomes imperative to
shine a stark light on the relentless state-sponsored violence targeting
women and girls in Iran. The NCRI Women’s Committee delves into a series
of issues plaguing Iranian women under the iron grip of an oppressive
regime. Decades of rule under a regime entrenched in misogyny have seen
women become central targets of state oppression. Emerging from a
revolution that sought democratic freedoms, the clerical regime
responded by immediately clamping down on women, making them the
cornerstone of its oppressive policies. This approach materialized in
the imposition of compulsory Hijab as a religious obligation. The regime
institutionalized gender apartheid within the Constitution and enacted
stringent penal and civil codes that marginalized and subjugated women.
Violence against women and girls in Iran isn’t merely a societal issue;
it is institutionalized and state-sanctioned. State officers enforcing
compulsory Hijab have been authorized to perpetrate violence against
women and girls in Iran. However, the regime’s most vicious actions are
directed at those brave women who dare to challenge its dominance. This
historical aggression traces back to the 1980s when young women and
girls demanding their democratic rights were violently arrested and
incarcerated. The regime’s brutality knew no limits. Teenage girls were
mercilessly executed even without establishing their identities, their
deaths a tool to instill fear. Interrogators were permitted to rape
female prisoners to extract confessions or coerce cooperation against
the nationwide resistance. Families received a box of sweets, a macabre
offering after the execution of their daughters, under the belief that
virgins would ascend to heaven. The regime’s atrocities extend far
beyond. Pregnant women faced torture and execution, while the elderly
and even young girls as tender as 10 or 13 were not spared. The ’80s saw
unimaginable horrors—the cage, the coffin, the residential unit, and
other grotesque torture methods. Thousands of women were executed for
their political opposition, and in the 1988 massacre, countless
enlightened women perished, with no survivors among the women’s wards in
various prisons. Amidst this darkness, from their sacrifices emerged a
generation of resilient women and girls in Iran. Despite facing the
regime’s relentless crackdowns and enduring the worst forms of torture,
the Resistance Units in Iran have bravely led anti-regime protests. The
recent nationwide uprising from September 2022 to March 2023 exposed the
regime’s brutality. While refraining from open fire, the regime’s agents
perpetrated vile acts against women. Young women faced unimaginable
brutality, trapped and surrounded, bludgeoned to death in the streets,
or abducted, raped, and tortured to death. The regime also targeted
schoolgirls with chemical attacks aimed to intimidate them from opposing
the regime. This systematic, state-sanctioned violence against women and
girls in Iran remains unparalleled in modern history. On this
International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls, the
NCRI Women’s Committee honors the courageous women and girls in Iran who
stood against savagery, paying a heavy price. Their resilience stands as
a testament, fueling the hope for a future where violence and
discrimination against women and girls will cease to exist. A renewed
list of Iranian women and girls who laid down their lives during the
2022-2023 protests is our first contribution to the 16 Days of Activism
against VAWG in 2023.>>
Source:
https://women.ncr-iran.org/2023/11/24/women-and-girls-in-iran/
Click here to read all about the heinous killing
by the mullahs' regime of Armita Gevarnand
Click here to read more about the brave
No-hijabis resisting the mullahs' regime
Click here for the
*In memory of the brave women who
laid down their lives
for democracy and freedom in Iran*
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