Recently, UN human rights bodies described the 'Hijab and Chastity' law as 'gender apartheid' and expressed concern; however, Iranian human rights activists argue that not only all laws of the Islamic Republic constitute gender apartheid, but that this regime is fundamentally built on apartheid. Mansoureh Hosseini Yeganeh, a journalist and women's rights activist, told Voice of America: 'All laws against women in the Islamic Republic are gender apartheid and systematic discrimination, including both laws rooted in jurisprudence and Islam and those passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly.' She added: 'The emphasis of UN human rights experts on the Hijab and Chastity law as apartheid indicates their ignorance of the details of laws in the Islamic Republic, although this reference can help activists convey to the global community that human rights organizations should be sensitive to all anti-women laws in Iran.' Alireza Manafzadeh, a sociologist and historian, also stated on Voice of America's 'News Hour' program: 'The foundation of the Islamic Republic is based on apartheid, and the regime deliberately intends to create a wave of despair among the people of Iran by passing anti-popular laws.' He noted that the Iranian regime does not understand the concept of nation and national interests, adding: 'The Islamic Republic considers its opponents as outsiders and deliberately aims to rid society of opponents by any means possible.' Eight UN human rights experts, including Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, described the draft Hijab and Chastity law as a form of gender apartheid and stated: 'It seems that the intention of the Islamic Republic officials is to govern through systematic discrimination aimed at the complete subjugation of women and girls.' These experts deemed the 'Family Support Bill through the Promotion of Chastity and Hijab' inherently discriminatory and a cause of gender-based harassment, urging Iranian officials to revise the mandatory hijab bill in accordance with international human rights standards and ensure that Iranian women and girls fully enjoy their rights.
Concerns Raised Over 'Gender Apartheid' in Iran; Experts Say the Foundation of the Islamic Republic is Based on 'Apartheid'
UN human rights experts have labeled Iran's 'Hijab and Chastity' law as a form of gender apartheid, with activists asserting that the entire legal framework of the Islamic Republic is discriminatory against women. This situation highlights the systemic oppression faced by women in Iran and the need for international awareness and action.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
UN human rights experts have labeled Iran's 'Hijab and Chastity' law as a form of gender apartheid, while activists argue that the entire legal framework of the Islamic Republic is discriminatory against women. This highlights the systemic oppression faced by women in Iran.
- The Hijab and Chastity law is criticized for being inherently discriminatory and promoting gender-based harassment.
- Experts urge Iranian officials to align their laws with international human rights standards.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been criticized for its treatment of women, with laws that many argue institutionalize gender discrimination. The term 'gender apartheid' reflects the severity of these laws and their impact on women's lives.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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