Shirin Ebadi Calls for International Action to Support Women in Iran

Following the intensification of government repression against women opposing mandatory hijab in the streets of Iran, Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Hamid Ismailion, a member of the families seeking justice for the PS752 plane crash, called for support for the resistance of Iranian women and action from the international community in this regard. Shirin Ebadi, head of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, emphasized in a letter to Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Friday, April 31, that 'women are today at the forefront of the most severe repressions in Iran.' In this letter, a copy of which was published on her Instagram page, she wrote: 'The Iranian government has once again begun an overt crime against women in the streets. This situation requires international action to support women in the streets of Iran, women whose only crime is not adhering to the mandatory hijab.' In part of her letter, she stated: 'The Islamic Republic, under the guise of a war situation, suppresses various groups in the name of national security.' This human rights activist, referring to Ali Khamenei's order for 'violent and forceful police action against women regarding mandatory hijab,' asked: 'How many more women and girls must be killed for the international communities to accept that decisive action must be taken to support women?' Shirin Ebadi likened the repression of women by the rulers of Iran and Afghanistan, emphasizing: 'The Islamic Republic is no different from the Taliban. It may be even more dangerous and hypocritical.' Meanwhile, Hamid Ismailion, from the families seeking justice for the PS752 plane crash, reported that the 'main war is ongoing inside Iran' and stressed the need to support the resistance and struggle of the people against the new wave of repression by the Islamic Republic. In a message on the social media platform 'X,' referring to the government's 'march' into the streets for a 'war against women,' he wrote: 'It is our duty outside the country to be the voice of the oppressed in this new wave of repression.' The Iranian Retirees Council stated: 'The Islamic Republic has declared war against women, life, and freedom.' It has been five days since the establishment of forces repressing optional hijab; observers report that Khamenei has given a 'command for civil war.' The 15th statement from 'Religious Thinkers' declared: 'The era of either hijab or beating is over.' Aida Shakeri, the sister of Nika Shakeri, was arrested for 'not wearing mandatory hijab.'