Zahra Rahnavard: National Unity is Serious Only if the Mandatory Hijab Law is Revoked

Zahra Rahnavard, a leader of the Green Movement who is under house arrest, wrote in a written message that the 'National Unity' cabinet, which is the slogan of Masoud Pezeshkian's government, is only serious if the 'made-up hijab law and its infamous apparatus is revoked across the country.' This message was published on Thursday, September 8, by the website Kalemeh, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, Rahnavard's husband, who, along with Mehdi Karroubi, has been under house arrest since the protests following the announcement of the results of the 2009 presidential election. In her message, Rahnavard stated that national unity in Iran is only 'believable' if it 'paints a clear picture for women through several fundamental actions, such as the freedom of political prisoners, especially the dozens of proud women prisoners, the repeal of the made-up mandatory hijab law and its infamous apparatus across the country, and the drafting and implementation of civil, political, and social laws regarding women's rights at the level of constitutional laws and other laws, including family law.' She mentioned Mehrangiz Kar and Shirin Ebadi, two women's rights activists who are both abroad, noting that they have made significant efforts for laws related to women's rights that have been 'deleted or ignored after the revolution' or to 'reform' these laws. Rahnavard emphasized that after these actions, 'perhaps once and for all, women in Iran can breathe easier and play a role in the fate of the nation and their personal lives without repression and fear.' She stressed that despite the formation of the 'National Unity Cabinet,' 'the repression and deprivation of women from human rights and freedom and justice and choice in their fate and private lives and political and social participation remains unchanged.' She wrote that although 'positive steps are also observed,' the government, after the Green Movement and the protests following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, has 'inflicted a Mongolian-style assault on the dignity of women under the pretext of mandatory hijab, which is in fact a symbol of the tyranny of the regime, to the extent that by blinding and mutilating the body of an innocent mother, it has given a new face to the repression of women.' Rahnavard has published multiple messages condemning the government's violent treatment of women regarding the enforcement of the mandatory hijab. Her message comes at a time when recent unconfirmed news has emerged about negotiations to lift the house arrest of Rahnavard, Karroubi, and Mousavi. Besides Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a senior figure of the Executives of Construction Party who stated that 'through the follow-ups of Masoud Pezeshkian, the lifting of house arrest has reached positive results,' Mehdi Karroubi's son has also confirmed this news. Zahra Rahnavard referred to the violent enforcement of the mandatory hijab as a 'dictatorial order.' Hossein Karroubi, in an interview with Ensaf News, mentioned that last week a message was sent from Mr. Pezeshkian, the President, and Mr. Ejei, the head of the judiciary, indicating that they are seeking to lift Mr. Karroubi's house arrest and agreements have been made. He quoted his father as saying that he wants to lift his house arrest along with Mir Hossein Mousavi, and if not, 'I do not want to lift my house arrest alone.'