International Women's Day

On March 8 millions of people around the world commemorate the International women's Day in many different ways. Depending who you ask, the reasons for it, varies. If we agree that women have different battles to fight, then can they look into this very important day as a light on the path to the future? The fact is that where you live determines your struggles. For a woman who lives in the West, IWD is a day to celebrate the achievements of women in the early 1900s who rose against injustice, poverty, lack of political rights, inequality, etc....

In other parts of the world though it's still a day to demand women's basic rights that is no longer an issue for women in the west, such as right to choice her clothing, choice in marriage or the right to keep her baby(s) after divorce, the choice to work, right to education, etc.... Iranian women are among those who are struggling for these basic rights.

For the first time the Iranian Constitutional Movement of 1905 sparked a profound changes in social and political activities of the Iranian women. They began forming associations, publications and the establishments of new schools for girls which was an aspirations of the change in social conditions of women and men for that matter.

Women during the Constitutional Revolution, were either directly the  participants in rallies or an encouragement for their men. When they could not be presence in different fronts, they would contribute financially. This took a huge burden off the men's shoulders.

Prominent Iranian women who played a vital part in the revolution included Bibi Khatoon Astarabadi, Noor-ol-Hoda Mangeneh, Mohtaram Eskandari and Sediqeh Dowlatabadi to name a few. Years later these women inspired other women like Qamar ol-Molouk Vaziri. Qamar was a singer who is famous for appearing in public without hijab in front of male audience.

Today after more than a century, the Iranian women once again are fighting for their basic rights. The 1979 Anti-monarchy revolution was another turning point for women in Iran. Women participated in 1979 Revolution heavily, but after Ayatollah Khomeini took power, they were the first to be oppressed. On International Women's Day in 1979 just a few weeks after the overthrown of Shah's regime by the people, women poured into the streets demanding their rights. Khomeini had declared "Forced Hijab" on women and said that women's place was at home with the kids.

It was very hard for Khomeini to make men to obey. So in order to bring men into submission, he had to suppress women and so it began. Forcing Hijab on women was the first step. In Iran women still have their hijab but it's a slab in the face for the mullahs because the way they dress is so anti-Islamic as they put it, that the regime has come up with the term: "Bad-hejab" which refers to women whose hair is showing or their dress is too tight or too short or they're wearing make up. Of course this has its own punishments. Women and young girls under this tag are arrested, humiliated and in many reported cases are forced to sign a paper admitting to prostitution. The arrival of Internet in Iran, has opened a whole new world for the Iranian women. At presence more than 60 percent of university students are female. Another act of defiance. In a country that women are not allowed to sing in public and can't publicly have a boyfriend, the wave of female bread-winners and self employed single women has overwhelmed and worried the regime deeply. Although the Iranian regime arrests and jails female journalists, student and political activists, religion minorities with their babies, and so on, it has become their honour to go to jail for failure to comply with the reactionary mullahs. Recently the Iranian regime sent a bill to Majlis (parliament) trying to deprive women under 40 years of age of getting a passport, unless their male guardian permit it in writing. Although it hasn't been officially revoked by the Majlis yet, according to news agencies outside the country, and due to high volume of protests from women, the regime has retreated from such an offensive bill.

Fighting in battles is also another taboo that the Iranian women have broken.

The women in the Iranian People's Fadaee Guerrillas in 1971 took arms against the Shah's regime and once again the women in People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran rose against the current regime after the 1979 revolution. The National Liberation Army and the role of its women which was disarmed by US in 2003 still plays a vital part in the struggle of women for freedom. So yes, we can look into this very important day as a light on the path to the future and we must. Our only choice is to go forward in order to build a prosperous future for our daughters.

Happy International Women's Day to all
Radio Irava
As part of a project for "CHUO 89.1 FM" to commemorate International Women's Day 2013.