Writers' Association: Women's Struggle for Freedom and Equality is Unstoppable

The Iranian Writers' Association commemorated International Women's Day on March 8 with a statement released on Friday, March 8. The statement notes that since March 8, 1857, when female textile workers in America fought for their rights, women around the world have been striving for freedom and equality for over a century. The Writers' Association emphasizes that the struggles of Iranian women over the past decades have made 'freedom and equality no longer a dream, but a part of the daily lives of women in this land, manifesting in universities, workplaces, sports, cinema, literature, music, dance, singing, and even in families and streets.' The statement asserts: 'Although the government has attempted to suppress women's rights by imposing civil and social restrictions, the daily resistance of women has gradually pushed back these barriers. In recent years, women's struggle against the regime has become a symbol for all freedom-seeking and equality-demanding movements, further proving that the level of freedom in a society can be measured by the freedom of its women.' According to the association, the symbol of the regime's dominance since its inception has been the imposition of hijab on women, using this tool to attempt to exclude them from public life. It continues by stating that 'the hijab primarily targeted working women who were employed in factories, offices, hospitals, schools, and universities, gradually extending this imposition to the streets.' The association adds that 'the insecurity of public spaces for women in a patriarchal system, combined with government misogynistic laws, has resulted in efforts to silence women's voices through arrests, job dismissals, threats, and travel bans on female activists over the past year, similar to previous years.' In another part of the statement, it is mentioned that 'the government tried to define mandatory hijab within the framework of a law known as the Hijab and Chastity Plan, hoping to find a basis for further imposition of hijab; however, the passionate resistance of women prevented its enactment, leaving the law that was so heavily promoted still unimplemented.' The Iranian Writers' Association states: 'Women’s dress code is still controlled in the social sphere, and the regime imposes its demands on women, but women have claimed the streets as their own and have displayed an exemplary resistance for their rights.' The association further adds that 'in opposition to women's choice of dress, the regime has not spared any means; classifying hijab, placing women in economic constraints due to their attire, failing to punish sexual harassers, and not supporting women in domestic violence have led to daily news of femicides under the misleading label of honor killings.' In another section of this statement, it is mentioned that 'the expulsion of women opposing mandatory hijab from artistic fields such as cinema, theater, music, or even from education is another obstacle the regime tries to use to silence women's demands for freedom and equality; a goal it has not yet succeeded in achieving.' The Iranian Writers' Association, while commemorating March 8, has called for the freedom and equality of women with men in all legal, social, economic, and political fields and emphasizes the organization of women's movements, believing that achieving 'freedom of expression without any restrictions for all' will make it possible to attain freedom and equal rights for women. The intensification of security and judicial pressures on civil activists ahead of International Women's Day is noted, with Reza Mohammadi from prison stating: 'The regime fears the laughter of children and the embrace of mothers.' The United Nations has reported that the rights of women and girls around the world continue to be violated.