The Islamic Republic of Iran was constructed on a foundation of patriarchal misogyny, which continues to shape the lives of Iranian women. Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution in 1979, took immediate action to reverse women’s rights in crucial areas such as marriage, child custody, and divorce. Shockingly, the legal age of marriage for women was lowered to just 9 years old, a practice that persists today in Iran.
In addition to mandatory veiling, Iranian women have been stripped of numerous basic freedoms. They are forbidden from dancing or singing solo in public, riding bicycles, attending sports matches in arenas, becoming judges, or holding the position of president. They are also subjected to sitting at the back of the bus and require their husband’s permission to travel abroad. Their court testimony and inheritance hold only half the value attributed to that of men. Iranian women find themselves in a unique position where their grandmothers enjoyed greater rights than they do now.
The rulers of the Islamic Republic are terrified of independent-minded women, recognizing the lasting impact of the revolutionary spirit that arose following the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini while in police custody. Amini’s struggle against the draconian dress code was more than a mere act of defiance. It served as a powerful reminder of the significance of women’s rights in the pursuit of a normal life and fundamental freedoms for all citizens, encapsulated in the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.”
Although government forces may have cleared the streets, the defiance of the Iranian people remains unyielding. Female journalists Nazila Maroufian and Sepideh Gholian continue to challenge the regime despite enduring multiple imprisonments, while Mahmonir Molaei-Rad, mother of young inventor Kian Pirfalak, who was unjustly killed by security forces, remains under house arrest, tirelessly seeking justice for her son. Countless Iranian female athletes have competed without the compulsory hijab, prominent actresses have publicly removed their veils in protest, and in major Iranian cities, hundreds of thousands of women continue to defy the hijab.
Mahsa’s tragic death sparked a pro-democracy uprising that transcended various sectors of society. Millions of university students, workers’ unions, dissidents, and individuals from ethnic, religious, and sexual minority groups now recognize the interwoven nature of women’s rights with the pursuit of an inclusive democracy. They understand that women’s rights cannot be separated from universal human rights and the inherent dignity of every individual.
During the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution, too few Iranian men stood in solidarity as the rights of their wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters were systematically dismantled by the regime. However, over the past year, they have united with Iranian women against a gender-apartheid regime that maintains power by silencing anyone who opposes its intolerant, Islamist ideology.
Singer Mehdi Yarrahi’s imprisonment for the song “Roosarito” (“Your Headscarf”), which encourages women to liberate themselves from mandatory veiling, and the impending extended prison sentence for prominent dissident Majid Tavakoli, exemplify the resilience of those who advocate for a more liberal society. Tragically, images of the hospitalized and intubated 31-year-old protester Javad Rouhi, tortured to death while imprisoned, mirror the viral images of Mahsa’s final moments.
While international coverage has rightly highlighted the role of women in Iran’s recent protests, the truth is that the vast majority of the more than 500 Iranians killed by authorities during these demonstrations were young men. The movement’s rallying cry resonates with the aspirations of the entire nation.
This sentiment finds profound expression in singer and songwriter Shervin Hajipour’s award-winning song “Baraye” (Because of), which has become the anthem of “Woman Life Freedom.” The song encapsulates societal discontent, addressing themes of poverty, economic hardship, corruption, environmental mismanagement, human rights abuses, gender inequality, and a yearning for an ordinary life.
Mahsa Jina Amini embodied youth, womanhood, and religious and ethnic diversity. She symbolized the vibrant multiplicity of Iran, standing in stark contrast to the homogenous, intolerant, and elderly male Shia clerics who govern the Islamic Republic. History has taught us that when women are at the forefront, democratic movements have a higher chance of success and yield better outcomes for all seeking their rights and freedoms. The centrality of women’s rights within this movement strengthens the objective of a free, secular, and democratic Iran. Consequently, Iran’s “Woman Life Freedom” revolution not only perseveres but also stands as one of the most significant and promising political movements in modern Middle Eastern history.
Market Capital Research 