Publication of the List of 100 Inspiring and Influential Women in the World; Iranian Women Included

The BBC has published a list of the 100 inspiring and influential women of 2023. This list includes names such as Sepideh Rashno, Elham Youssefian, Sofia Kiani, and Paramida from Iran, as well as two Afghan women. The collection features women from various countries, including prominent figures like Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States; Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer; Aitana Bonmatí, Ballon d'Or-winning footballer; Timnit Gebru, artificial intelligence expert; Gloria Steinem, feminist; America Ferrera, Hollywood star; and Huda Kattan, beauty industry figure. In a year marked by severe heat, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters, this list also includes women who are working to help their communities cope with climate change and take action to adapt to its impacts. Sepideh Rashno, an Iranian writer and artist, is known in Iran for her outspoken opposition to mandatory hijab laws. She was arrested following a confrontation with a woman on a bus who tried to force her to comply with the hijab law. During her detention, with visible bruises on her face, she appeared on Iranian state television to 'apologize' for her behavior. This incident occurred in the summer of 2022, just weeks before the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Recently, Sepideh Rashno was summoned to court again for posting images of herself without the mandatory hijab on social media. She claims she has been suspended from university due to her activism. This Iranian writer and artist is currently out of prison and continues to defy the mandatory hijab laws. Elham Youssefian, a blind human rights lawyer, is an advocate for including people with disabilities in discussions about climate change, particularly in terms of immediate responses to climate events. She grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States in 2016. She plays a significant role in the International Disability Alliance, a global network of 1,100 organizations representing people with disabilities. Elham's main goal is to educate decision-makers to consider the impacts of climate change on disabled individuals in their work processes. She also informs about the great potential abilities of disabled individuals in combating climate change. Sofia Kiani, a social entrepreneur, realized after speaking with her relatives in Iran that there was relatively little information available about climate change in Persian, so she began translating materials on the subject. Shortly thereafter, she founded 'Climate Cardinals,' an international nonprofit group aimed at translating climate change information into various languages to benefit non-English speaking communities. Currently, this group has ten thousand volunteer students in eighty countries and has translated one million words of climate change content into a hundred languages. Sofia's goal is to remove language barriers in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and awareness worldwide. Paramida, a DJ and music producer, stood against cultural restrictions for Iranian women long before the recent widespread protests in Iran. Now based in Berlin, she discovered her passion for music and dance culture during her teenage years in Frankfurt and Tehran. Paramida's music company is currently promoting joyful and diverse dance culture. She is recognized as a global DJ performing in prestigious clubs and challenges gender norms in the male-dominated music and nightlife entertainment industry. Sima Toure, an Afghan refugee rights activist, works with the Friendship Network, an organization aimed at providing vital resources and information for Afghans inside the country and refugees abroad, established following the Taliban's return to power. As an Afghan refugee herself, Sima is well aware of the challenges involved. She works on refugee housing and ensuring access for students affected by unrest. Toure collaborates with organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, aware of the role of education in transforming individuals. Housi Ahmadzai, a television presenter, is one of the few female TV hosts who continued her work in Afghanistan after the Taliban's return to power. Despite security concerns and social resistance against women's presence in media, she continues to work at Shamshad TV. Housi has interviewed several Taliban officials but faces restrictions on questioning their actions. With a higher education background in law and political science, she has been active in media for seven years. Several Iranian women are on the BBC's list of 100 influential women. Sepideh Rashno's decision to attend court with optional hijab. Sepideh Rashno: 'I will go to court without hijab'; Judiciary: The court was held without her presence. Simultaneous pressure from both her family and the Islamic Republic on Sepideh Rashno: They say 'give it up.' Sepideh Rashno was sentenced to five years of suspended prison and to write a research paper on literature and patriotism.