Iranian Writers Association: 'Mandatory Hijab Imposition' Was the First Step of Islamic Rule in Suppressing Women

The Iranian Writers Association, on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on December 4, criticized the 'systematic misogyny' and 'imposition of mandatory hijab' by the Islamic regime in Iran in a statement. In a statement published on Friday, December 3, on X (formerly Twitter), the association described 'the deprivation of freedom of dress through the imposition of mandatory hijab' as the first step of the 'Islamic regime' to suppress women and a license 'to intensify various forms of oppression against women.' The Iranian Writers Association emphasized that the regime's 'misogyny' was demonstrated in its response to the movement that arose with the slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom.' The widespread protests in 2022 began after the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police, during which several women protested against the mandatory hijab by burning their headscarves and cutting their hair. The statement noted that 'protest against mandatory hijab' on March 8, 1979, was the first public step of the 'women's resistance and freedom movement' after the establishment of the Islamic regime. The Iranian Writers Association stated that the 'governmental murder of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini' ignited the 'women's resistance and freedom movement' and transformed it into a 'public movement.' The statement assessed the Islamic Republic's actions to counter this public movement and 'control women's anger and protests' as 'unsuccessful,' citing 'continuous repression of protesters across the country,' 'widespread arrests,' 'harsh prison sentences,' 'the use of the long-standing weapon of rape,' 'poisoning in schools and girls' dormitories,' and 'madness-inducing and suicide-inducing tactics.' According to the statement, the government's actions have 'increased the depth and scope of this movement day by day.' The Iranian Writers Association, emphasizing 'the right to freedom of expression and the right to public protest,' called for the support of 'free thinkers' alongside 'free and courageous women and men' who are taking steps in this direction in Iran and the world. The Iranian Writers Association has consistently defended the right to free expression and criticized the government's policies in suppressing protesters. Rural women are invisible victims of discrimination and violence. Azam Bahrami, a rural researcher residing in Italy, spoke with Voice of America about the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, stating: 'In examining various forms of violence and discrimination against women, there are always groups that remain invisible and in the shadows,' adding: 'Even forms of violence and discrimination occupy a small space in media, laws, activism, and even the concerns of women's activists.' She pointed out that rural women produce nearly half of the direct food consumed and engage in various activities related to food, such as research, harvesting, and processing, which are essential for ensuring healthy and nutritious food. Ms. Bahrami noted that today's global crisis, with warming and climate change, directly affects them, labeling women as 'victims and heroines of this global struggle.' This researcher believes that 'if we consider unequal power relations and control over resources, as well as the imposition of systemic poverty and lack of access to equal facilities and welfare based on democracy and human development, as the foundation of violence and tools of systemic plunder, rural women are at the forefront of this violence.' She added: 'Most of them never have the opportunity for a healthy life due to lack of access to sustainable water and energy resources and are the first to be deprived of work, education, and access to basic living facilities during climate migrations and natural disasters.' Azam Bahrami pointed out that 'the share of rural development and construction for 26% of Iran's rural population in 2023 was equivalent to 0.97% of the national budget, which represents a 17.5% decrease compared to the 2022 budget law, an amount less than 1%.' She raised the question, 'What will be the share of rural women (who make up one-third of Iran's women) from this budget?' and added: 'This discrimination in access to infrastructure, including their share in public health and education services, even access to banking and internet services, can weaken their defense of their rights and resilience against imposed economic and climatic conditions and economic independence to such an extent that they can easily be subjected to physical and sexual violence without the law protecting them or having the means and ability to defend themselves.' Ms. Bahrami believes that a significant portion of this suffering and violence is imposed on rural women due to the failure to meet the most basic needs of rural communities in Iran, adding: 'How many nomadic and rural women have died due to snake bites or childbirth pains and treatable ailments because of the distance from the nearest health center, and how many rural girls have been forced to drop out of school due to poverty or the obligation to spend time fetching water and producing carpets and kilims?' This researcher also stated: 'Rural women easily become victims of domestic, traditional, and tribal violence without being able to access counseling or social support.' According to her, 'the high rates of malnutrition among rural women have even led to changes in height and weight in young girls in some provinces of Iran.' Azam Bahrami said: 'They are silent and voiceless victims in child marriage and motherhood, subjected to violence by their closest family members. Rural women are even hard to see and count in the efforts against violence and discrimination by women's equality groups. They are, in fact, invisible victims of discrimination and violence.'