Examining the Plights of Women in Iran and Afghanistan on France 24; Mahsa Alimardani: Medicalian Will Not Improve the Situation for Women in Iran

Mahsa Alimardani, a senior researcher at the human rights organization 'Article 19', discussed the plights of women in Iran and Afghanistan on France 24's television program. She stated that even if the Islamic Republic had a president with authority, Medicalian's past in various positions indicates that he will not improve the situation for women in Iran. Alimardani cited the time when Medicalian was active at Tabriz University and enforced strict hijab laws, adding that it has been said that he even resorted to violence in enforcing these laws. She mentioned that what some analysts referred to as a glimmer of hope for women in Iran with Medicalian's rise was merely based on his electoral speeches. Alimardani pointed out that since the killing of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and the nationwide protests in Iran, Iranian women have bravely continued to appear in public with optional hijab despite increased government repression and strictness regarding hijab laws, refusing to compromise on their rights. Zahra Nader, editor of 'Women Times', who was another guest on the program, referred to the plights of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban. She stated that the Taliban arrest 'young and alone' women under the pretext of not adhering to hijab, even when they are fully covered. Nader referenced a report they published and mentioned that although the Taliban initially confirmed the arrests, they later made significant efforts to conceal them. She said that after speaking with several families of the arrested women, it was discovered that these women had been sexually assaulted in Taliban prisons, and one of them committed suicide the night she was released, while another's lifeless body was found 22 days later. Nader emphasized that the Taliban's goal is to eliminate women from society, and that sexual assault in Afghanistan is an effective method for this. She noted that while women in Afghanistan are under widespread Taliban repression, there is no accountability or responsibility in this regard, and countries only express concern through statements without taking concrete actions. In response to a question from host Ant Yang about how criminalizing gender apartheid in international law could improve the situation for women, Alimardani stated that now that the draft convention to prohibit and punish crimes against humanity is being voted on at the United Nations, it is an opportune moment to include gender apartheid in it, which could bring about significant change. Amnesty International has also called for the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime in international law to strengthen efforts against regimes that systematically oppress based on gender.