Narges Mohammadi's Virtual Speech at the Italian Parliament; The Necessity of Criminalizing Gender Apartheid

Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist, spoke virtually on Wednesday at the "Review of Human Rights Protection" session of the Permanent Human Rights Committee of the Italian Parliament. In her speech, she emphasized the necessity of criminalizing gender apartheid and stopping widespread executions in Iran, urging the international community to support the Iranian people's struggle for democracy and women's rights. She referenced the situation of three female human rights activists, Varishe Moradi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, who are facing the death penalty, and called on the Italian Parliament to take a firm stance against the repressive policies of the Islamic Republic and prioritize human rights in their policies. This Nobel Peace Prize laureate described the suppression of the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in Iran and called the Islamic Republic's claims of not suppressing women as "lies and deceit," stating, "I am ready to testify in any court about cases of harassment and assault. The Islamic Republic systematically uses these methods to suppress women." She also emphasized that the transition from a dictatorial religious government to democracy, equality, and freedom is inevitable, and although this path will be difficult, the Iranian people will succeed. Mohammadi urged the members of the Italian Parliament to place the criminalization of gender apartheid on their agenda and take action to stop executions in Iran. She highlighted the ongoing protests by the Iranian people, including students, women, workers, and retirees, asserting that the Islamic Republic is not only un-reformable but also the biggest obstacle to the Iranian people's quest for freedom and justice. In conclusion, Mohammadi called on the international community to stand with the Iranian people and support their efforts for freedom and democracy.