Author: Maryam Namazie

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We are Human too; Half of Iran and the World

We are Human too; Half of Iran and the World

 5 June 2013

When asked about the women registering for Iran’s upcoming presidential election, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a member of the Guardian Council, which vets all candidates, said: “It is reminiscent of the person who wasn’t allowed to enter a village but was nonetheless asking to meet the village elder. The law doesn’t allow women to run… The general conditions are specified in Article 115 of the constitution; it says ‘one must be elected from amongst religious-political men’”.

Imagine a society in which half the population is excluded from running for office! Clearly, the “election” is a farce for women – but also men.

After all, Iran is a theocracy. Only those with “a convinced belief in the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country” can run for office.

There are no political freedoms. Political parties opposed to the government are banned. Parties and associations cannot be formed unless they obey the criteria of Islam, and the basis of the Islamic republic.
There is no freedom of expression and press.

Dissidents are routinely tortured, imprisoned and executed for questioning the regime, its leaders, and transgressing Islamic norms.

Over 130 offences are publishable by death, including blasphemy, apostasy, heresy, enmity against God, adultery, and homosexuality.

Women in particular are treated as second class citizens. Women have no right to work or travel without a male guardian’s permission, certain fields of study are closed to women; veiling is compulsory; and a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man’s, amongst others.

The international media’s portrayal of the “election” circus as legitimate ignores the repressive and misogynist nature of the state and people’s resistance.

Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation reiterates its opposition to the Islamic regime of Iran and the election farce.

Women and men in Iran – like people everywhere – have a fundamental right to democratic politics, equality, freedom and secularism. A precondition for real change is an end to the Islamic regime – not by US-led militarism or economic sanctions – but by the women’s liberation movement and the people of Iran.

On 14 June, join us to oppose the “election” and to show solidarity with the people of Iran.

We are Islamism’s worst fitnah!

Support red-clothed women of Marivan

Support red-clothed women of Marivan

22 April 2013

On Monday 15 April 2013, the Islamic regime of Iran’s security forces paraded a man dressed in women’s clothing and a hejab on the streets of Marivan, Iranian Kurdistan in order to punish and humiliate him.

A judge had sentenced three men from two feuding families to be “humiliated” by wearing women’s clothing in public. The regime’s anti-women laws mean that women are seen to be the source of fitnah, corruption and harm; the greatest humiliation that can be bestowed on a man is to have him dressed as a woman!

On Tuesday, red-clothed women started a protest and called on others to join. 400 men and women joined in a march throughout the city. The police arrested some of the protesters; all of whom were subsequently released.

On Friday 19 April, there was another public protest, in which there were banners saying: “Being a woman is not a source of humiliation or punishment”. Many of the protesting women are wearing red.

The protests are gaining prominence in Iran and elsewhere. On Monday 21 April, there was a gathering in Iraqi Kurdistan is support of this move. Petitions are being circulated in towns and villages in Iran in support of the “red-clothed” women. Fitnah wholeheartedly defended the protest.

fitnah.movement@gmail.com