Change for Equality

Iranian Women's Rights Activists Say No to War On March 8

Sadmin — 2012-03-08T07:22:34Z

Change for Equality: War does not happen in the course of a day. There is no need for war to land in our cities with a bomb. The shadow of war is also frightening. The possibility of war too changes the lives of women. Every day that we spend at war or in conditions of war, is filled with the fear of the death of the our achievements, which have come about through years of struggle. War for us, means destructive violence committed against women and children. It means more severe crackdowns. It signifies the silencing of our demands and civil protest and…Still our bodies are covered in the dust of the eight year war with Iraq, and our country is once again faced with the threat of war.

War is not just bombs and the destruction of our homes. Even before we embark on a war, it seems that the lives of women have already become more difficult. War has focused its gaze on women and moves closer, step by step.

We do not want to become the silent victims of this monster. On March 8, 2012 while being denied the opportunity to celebrate the day or express our demands in the streets, we have taken this opportunity to say that we are opposed to war and each of these short films express our reasons for that opposition. Please join us, so that perhaps together we can become a strong voice opposing those who with the slightest of excuses and with a smile adorning their lips, welcome the possibility of War.

Videos with English subtitles:

Parastoo Dokouhaki and Marzieh Rasouli Arrested in Continued Wave of Crackdown on Iranian Journalists

Sadmin — 2012-01-20T21:31:13Z

Change for Equality: Parastoo Dokouhaki a women's rights activist, journalist and researcher covering social issues and Marzieh Rasouli a journalist reporting on music and book publications were arrested on January 15 and 17 respectively.

According to reports, security agents stormed the home of Dokouhaki on Sunday January 15, 2012 and after searching the premises and confiscating her personal belongings such as her computer and her writings, they proceeded to arrest her. Court officials have yet to weigh on this arrest and as such the reason for Parastoo's arrest as well as the charges brought against this women's rights activist and journalist are unclear. According to family members Ms. Dokouhaki had limited her activities over the past two years to translations and cooperation with the Shariati Foundation and was not involved in any sort of political activities or journalistic activities.

According to these reports, following the death of her father a few months ago, Parastoo was suffering from serious depression and was under treatment for this condition. As such, she was on medication and seeing her doctor on a regular basis. Her arrest given her emotional state has worried not only family members but also her friends and colleagues in the women's movement.

Parastoo Dokouhaki is a longtime women's rights activist. She gained notoriety for writing for the now banned Zanan Monthly (Women) under the Editorial direction of seasoned journalist Shahla Sherkat and for starting one of the first blogs by women in Iran. Her blog “Zan Nevesht” or Women's Writings dealt with not only personal matters but issues having to do with women in Iranian Society. Established in 2001, it filled a serious void on reporting on women's issues at the time.

Also based on news reports journalist Marzieh Rasouli, was arrested on January 17, at her home. According to reports, security agents arrested Rasouli after searching her home and seizing her personal property. Security agents presented Rasouli with an arrest order in which the charge against her was stated as “acting against national security.” Security agents told the family that they were transferring Ms. Rasouli to Evin prison. Ms. Rasouli is a journalist covering music and publishing and has experience working in reformist dailies such as Shargh and Etemad.

The arrest of these two female journalists comes on the heels of the arrest of Fatemeh Kheradmand another female journalist, who was arrested on January 8. The arrest of these women comes during a renewed crackdown targeting journalists ahead of the Parliamentary elections which are scheduled to take place in 6 weeks. Some of the other journalists arrested in this crackdown include: Sahameddin Borghani (arrested on January 17, Payman Houshmand Zadeh arrested on Januray 7), and Saeed Madani (arrested on January 7).

It should be noted that besides being a journalist and political activist (National Religious Front Party), Saeed Madani was a sociologist, who researched social problems. Much of his work was focused on vulnerable women and his research had contributed greatly to knowledge about women and social problems in Iran.

Saeed Madani, Sociologist Arrested

Sadmin — 2012-01-20T21:30:11Z

Change for Equality: According to reports, Saeed Madani, journalist, political activist, and well-respected sociologist was arrested on January 7, 2012 on the street. After his arrest security agents escorted him and his wife home and proceeded to search the property and confiscate his personal belongings. According to reports, his office at the University of Social Services and Social Rehabilitation was also searched by security agents. The reason for his arrest are unclear and his whereabouts are unknown.

Besides being a journalist and political activist (National Religious Front Party), Saeed Madani is a sociologist, who conducts research on social problems. His research findings have contributed greatly to the understanding of problems facing Iranian society, and as such, he is well respected among his peers but also among social activists. His long list of research subjects include: child abuse, addiction, HIV/AIDs, violence and sexuality. His groundbreaking research on prostitution in Iran, received much praise by social activists, especially women's rights activists and social scholars.

Madani was arrested in 2000 along with several other members of the National Religious Front party and spent 7 months in prison.

Plan for Gender Separation in Iran's Hospitals

Sadmin — 2012-01-20T20:13:59Z

Change for Equality: While discussions about and adoption of policies on gender segregation in the public sphere date back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, efforts to actually implement physical segregation of men and women have not been successful beyond schools. Segregation at Universities has been proposed and has come up more systematically as a subject of interest in the past few years, but with limited resources it is difficult to implement this system. Instead the establishment of more all female Universities has been proposed and planned. The bus system is another place where segregation has been implemented, but anyone who has lived in Iran, will testify that the segregated bus system, where women are to ride in the back and men to ride in the front, doesn't hold with overcrowded buses. Other proposals for segregation have failed not only because the public is not responsive and supportive, but as a matter of practicality.

Still despite all the problems facing the country, this issue remains a top priority for some policymakers in Iran and over the last few years the discussion has taken on a more hysteric tone. Besides segregation of men and women in elevators and also at universities, segregation of men and women at hospitals are being proposed. Below is an interesting report on this issue by Dr Shideh Rezaie published in Iran Rooyan website.

Source: Iran Rooyan

Report By: Dr. Shideh Rezaei

“Creation of single-gender hospital is necessary…” A familiar title that once in a while turns into the subject of the day by officials and representatives of Majlis (Parliament) and following the hot fever that ensues one hospital or sections of several hospitals turns into the cold sweat on the face of the planners, leaving the subject alone for a while. But this time, the Minister of Health and Medial Education has entered this tumultous arena.

Recently the plan for establishment and expansion of specialized hospitals for women was again brought up for discussion among the decision makers of Iran's health and medical field. The subject of Iranian gender separated hospitals was first brought up during the fifth Majlis (Parliament), when Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdy, Iran's current Minister of Health and Medical Education, was parliament member and one of the architects and advocates of this plan. With her appointment as the Minister of Health and Medical Education, this subject, more serious than ever, has returned to the arena of political issues of the decision makers of health in the country.

Execution of this plan during the Fifth Majlis (Parliament) was unsuccessful, but in 1385 (2006) it was brought up in the government and approved. Based on this policy, the Mahdieh Hospital of Tehran in northern side of the Shoosh square, started its operation as the first specialized and ultra-specialized for women in 1386 (2007). And this time only for women.

Expansion of women's hospitals in every province is the first phase of execution of gender separated hospitals and it appears that five or six medical universities in the provinces have declared their readiness to establish these hospitals in big metropolitan areas. But this is not the full story. Parallel with these discussions, the condition of women patients' clothing in hospitals was challenged. Minoo Aslani, the head of the Basiji Militia's Women's Association declared that the clothing of women patients in the operation room is not acceptable and is not worthy of the Islamic Republic's class and as such it apears that along with the plan for gender separation, the plan for covering (hejab) and modesty will slowly come to the hospitals and after a while should be expecting the plan for Islamic operation rooms.

Although since the beginning of these plans in 1376 (1997), no opposition has been made, but in reality only one hospital in Tehran, with the support of men, has been able to operate for women. Experts consider this failure due to the lack of financial and human resources in certain professional groups and social services and explain that currently many other hospitals are also facing difficulties with resources and equipment.

Ultimately Mrs. Dastjerdi has brought up for consideration that building of special hospitals for women in all the provinces requires allocation of 3 thousand billion Toman budget.

And now the question to consider: Are there not more important issues other than the establishment of special hospitals for women in the health policy of Iran? While AIDS is taking on a feminine look and while Iran has the third highest rank for women's suicide and while the average age for women with breast, womb and ovary cancer is 10 years younger than the world average: Isn't it more logical that instead of spending such a high amount on the gender-separated hospitals to spend it on keeping women alive and improving the quality of life for them?

Alieh's Return in Pictures

Sadmin — 2012-01-09T19:18:29Z

Change for Equality: Alieh Eghdam Doust, women's rights activist was released from prison today on January 8, 2011 after serving a three year prison term. Upon her release from prison, Alieh was greeted by women's rights and human rights activists who waited for her outside Evin prison. She was then taken to the home of one of the Campaign activists, where a party was held in her honor and to celebrate her release. Women's rights activists, peace activists, human rights and student activists, all visited with Alieh today and will continue to do so over the next few days.

The following picture were taken during the party in honor of Alieh's release. These pictures and Alieh's strong spirit demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit and show that hope always prevails. Here's hoping that we have many many more parties celebrating the release of our imprisoned friends and colleagues.

Women's Rights Activist Alieh Eghdam Doust Released After Serving Three Year Prison Term

Sadmin — 2012-01-08T15:23:11Z

Change for Equality: Alieh Eghdam Doust, women's rights activist was released from prison today on January 8, 2011 after serving a three year prison term. Alieh was sentenced to serve three years in prison after she was arrested on June 12, 2006 along with nearly 70 other protesters in Haft-e Tir Square, during a protest demanding equal rights for women. Alieh was subsequently tried in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts, on charges of acting against national security and sentenced to 3 years and four months in prison and 20 lashes. The court of appeals reduced her sentence by 4 months and 20 lashes, but upheld three years of this prison sentence. On February 1, 2009 Alieh was transferred under guard supervision from her paternal home in the city of Fouman in the north of Tehran, for the implementation of her three year prison sentence. Despite repeated attempts by her lawyers and Alieh herself, the courts refused to allow for furlough or early release.

While Alieh's transfer to prison happened without the prior knowledge of herself, her lawyers and other women's rights activists, today Alieh was greeted by women's rights and human rights activists upon her release from prison, who will host her until she resumes a normal life. The Site of Change for Equality and all women's rights activists welcome this auspicious occasion.

Alieh Eghdamdoust is the first women's rights activists to be sentenced to prison solely for her women's rights activities. Alieh Eghdamdoust, now into her 60th decade of life, served time in prison in the 1980s for political activities as well. Alieh Eghdamdoust and Bahareh Hedayat are the only two persons to serve prison terms in relation to their participation in the 2006 protest in support of women's rights in Hafte Tir Square. Bahareh continues to remain in prison after two years, to serve a ten year prison term in relation to her student and women's rights activities.

Journalist Fatemeh Kheradmand Arrested

Sadmin — 2012-01-08T15:21:31Z

Change for Equality: According to reports by the House of Human Rights of Iran, Fatemeh Kheradmand, journalist, was arrested in the middle of the night on January 8, after security agents claiming to be from the prosecutor's office came to her home. After searching the property and seizing personal items like her computer, these agents took Fatemeh Kheradmand with them to Evin prison. They did not explain the reason for her arrest.

Masoud Lavasani, Fatemeh's husband who was present at the time of her arrest, had himself been imprisoned. Lavasani who is also a journalist was sentenced to serve 2 years in prison and was released at the end of summer of 2010. Fatemeh and Masoud have a young child as well, who will have to contend with the absence of yet another parent now.

Three Year Mandatory Prison Sentence for Fereshteh Shirazi Upheld in Appeals

Sadmin — 2012-01-07T18:40:00Z

Change for Equality: The appeals court in Mazandaran Province, has upheld a three year prison sentence for women's rights and Campaign activist, Fereshteh Shirazi. The sentence was issued in preliminary court hearings by Judge Hassanzadeh in the northern city of Amol.

Fereshteh Shirazi is a women's rights activist in the city of Amol, who was arrested on September 4, 2011 and has remained in prison since her arrest. This prison's living conditions are extremely harsh and there is no distinction between prisoners, as such Fereshteh is housed with dangerous criminals. Given the difficult conditions in prison, Fereshteh has requested that she be transferred to a prison in the city of Sari, despite the fact that her family lives in Amol. It is possible that she will be moved to Amol prison in the weeks to come, despite the hardships that the distance will cause her family, especially her elderly mother with respect to visitation.

Fereshte is a women's rights and Campaign activist as well as a blogger. She was charged in relations to her women's rights activities and her writings.

Women with Inappropriate Hejab Will be Prevented from Travel

Sadmin — 2012-01-06T02:23:01Z

Change for Equality: According to a report published by the governmental Mehr News Agency, the head of the Airport Police, who had participated in a press conference with reporters, discussed stricter regulations with respect to women's dress at Iran's airports.

According to the Mehr report, during this press conference, Commander Heydari explained that the police will take action against women who wear short overcoats or[long] t-shirts [instead of the overcoats] when at the airport and will prevent them from traveling. According to Heydari, men wearing tight fitting t-shirts, t-shirts with writings on them or t-shirts which show poor taste, will also be prevented from travel.

It should be noted that the observance of Hejab (veiling) by women in the Islamic Republic of Iran is mandatory, however there is no clear legal definition of what constitutes appropriate hejab or covering. Nonetheless, since the hejab became mandatory following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have had to contend with the morality police, charged with arresting women for poor observance of the hejab. The determination of poor hejab is arbitrary and decided upon on a case-by-case basis and by the individual morality policeman or policewoman.

In his first term (2005-2009) Ahmadinejad reinstated the morality police (which had been largely halted during Khatami's two term (8years) presidency). The reinstatement of the morality police was implemented under the guise of the Social Safety Program. While professing to work to ensure the safety of citizens on a wide range of issues, the Social Safety Program focused predominantly on arresting women for inappropriate or poor observance of the hejab.

The Social Safety program was reinvigorated in 2010, and women are being targeted and arrested on the streets in unprecedented numbers ever since. According to official figures over 70,000 police have been assigned the ironic task of ensuring the Social Safety of the public through enforcing strict veiling codes and arresting scores of women deemed to be dressed inappropriately!

The pictures in this news piece, depicting women "poorly covered" or women being arrested for "inappropriate veiling" have been taken from conservative government or quasi governmental news sites and news agencies and are largely from summer 2011.

Khadijeh Moghaddam Receives Human Rights Award of the City of Bochum, Germany

Sadmin — 2011-12-31T22:52:07Z

Change for Equality: On Sunday December 18, in celebration of the International Day of Human Rights, a ceremony was held in the Christos Church in the city of Bochum. During this “Iranian Night”, and in the presence of the esteemed guest Shirin Ebadi, the winner of Nobel Peace Prize, the city's first human rights award was presented to Ms. Khadijeh Moghaddam, a women's rights activist, member of Mothers of Laleh Park, Mothers for Peace and the One Million Signatures Campaign.

The event was organized by Amnesty International (Germany), and the Free Iran Organization and with support from the City of Bochum. Shirin Ebadi was also present at the event. In her acceptance speech Khadijeh Moghaddam remembered the martyrs of the green movement and their mothers as well as all those who had been executed during the past few decades. She dedicated her award to all the grieving and hurt mothers of the last 33 years and to an icon of maternal resistance “mother Behkish family” who had six children executed because of political activities during the 1980s. We congratulate Khadijeh Moghaddam on this well-deserved recognition of her work to promote human rights.