HAMBASTEGI ENGLISH 87 March 2000

In Commemoration of March 8, International Women's Day THE FIRST PRECONDITION TO WOMEN'S LIBERATION IN IRAN IS AN END TO THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND POLITICAL ISLAM By Maryam Namazie, Executive Director, IFIR March 8, 2000

The following is taken from Maryam Namazie's speeches given in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles on women's rights in Iran.

Imagine living in a country where the government, and civil and criminal codes are based on Islam and the Koran's verses, and the courts, police, militias, guards, and all officials impose it by force. According to the Koran, men are superior to women, righteous women are devoutly obedient, and men who fear disloyalty and ill conduct, should admonish women, refuse to share their beds, and beat them (Surah al Nisa (4): verse 34). The Koran says, wives are fields that husbands can approach when and how they choose (Surah al Baqarah (2): verse 223). Imagine living in a country governed according to the actions and sayings of a prophet, Mohammad; he "married" Aisha at the age of nine and she was so small that he would carry her on his shoulders and play with her. According to Mohammad, women are deficient in intellect. In Mohammad's last will, he placed a long list of prohibitions on women, including that they are not to be in charge of the task of judging and not to be consulted.

Now imagine that you live in Iran, where your daughters can be legally raped under the guise of marriage at the age of nine or younger if her male guardian permits; a husband can deny your working if he finds it incompatible with the family's interests and dignity; and where many fields of study are closed to you because you are a woman. In Iran, you need the permission of your husband or male guardian to travel; your rights to divorce are extremely limited; you have no long-term right to child custody; and domestic violence is the right of your husband. In Iran, you may be executed for being a lesbian and stoned to death for a voluntary sexual relationship outside of marriage; the law even specifies the size of the stone to be used in the stoning. Imagine living in a country where sexual apartheid rules and as a woman you are segregated in schools, buses, public offices, even while swimming in the sea, and you must cover yourself each time you venture outside of your home. Pretend that you live in Iran, and the government and its religious rule of law interferes in every aspect of your life. Whom you sleep with, what music you listen to, and what you wear become political acts of defiance against the regime and Islam. You would resist even if you were there for one moment as women and people are resisting daily, despite the repression that follows.

The so-called Islamic "feminists," an oxymoron, say that the problem in countries where Islamic laws are practiced is that Islam has been misinterpreted and they themselves put forth "progressive" interpretations to prove that Islam is "just." For example, regarding the verse in the Koran sanctioning violence against women, they say that Islam only permits violence after admonishment and confinement and as a last resort. They say, since men would beat their wives mercilessly at that time, this is a restriction on men to beat women more mercifully (Women Living Under Muslim Laws, For Ourselves Women Reading the Qur'an, 1997). On the verse that says women are men's fields, they say the Koran is encouraging sexuality (same source), even though women are killed for expressing theirs. Regarding the fact that women are not to judge or consult, one such "feminist" who is a mullah from Qom using a female pseudonym says: "Or, Let's suppose that in other planets, women are stronger and more learned than men, do we accept their custom or do we reject it totally?" (Zanan 4 and 5)

These so-called "feminists" along with Western governments, their media, and pro-Khatami "opposition" are not concerned with defending women's rights. Instead, by legitimizing Islam and an Islamic regime using the racist theory of cultural relativism, they intend to defend and maintain crimes against women.

When speaking of Iran, why do they compare the status of women in Iran to those of women in neighboring countries? They say women in Iran are better off - at least they can drive in comparison to Saudi Arabia and there are women in parliament, never mind that they enforce and regulate misogyny. Using cultural relativism, they call the "elections" of Khatami as president several years ago, an exercise in the free will of the people. Only four, including Khatami, out of 238 reactionary, Muslim men, were selected for their loyalty to the regime by the "Supreme Spiritual Leader," Khamenei and the Guardian Council. They say that there have been "reforms" since Khatami's "election;" during his presidency, the government-controlled press has been banned from discussing women's rights outside the framework of Islam and legislation has been passed segregating hospitals. Women have continued to be flogged, stoned, and imprisoned. Why in Austria, when a fascist party recently gained power, Western governments boycotted it, yet 21 years of religious fascism in Iran is called an "Islamic democracy?"

Why do they not compare the situation of women in Iran to those of women in France? It is because the more repressive a regime and the less rights women have, the better it is for profits. Creating divisions, including sexual divisions, guarantees more disadvantaged segments of the working class and helps drive down the standard of living for all people. Moreover, to maintain Islam, women more than anyone else must be bound and gagged. If the status of women in Iran was compared to that of France, and women could for one moment walk in the streets without a veil, this would mean the end of an Islamic regime. Western governments that supported and encouraged the growth of political Islam for cold war gains and profits, helped make the Islamic Republic of Iran and countries where Islamic laws are practiced a brutal reality for millions of human beings. They have shown that they will do anything to defend their class interests in Iran, even in their own countries. In Germany, the police beat asylum seeker Roya Mosayebi and forcibly veiled her in order to prepare her file for deportation to Iran. When she filed a complaint, a German court found that the police had acted in accordance with the law. Because Mosayebi was born in Iran, she must be beaten and veiled for an archaic religion.

In their continuing efforts to maintain the rule of Islam in Iran, Western governments and their media say that the increasing protests in Iran are in support of Khatami's "reformist" faction over Khamenei's "conservative" faction. Today Khalkhali, the infamous hanging judge who tried and sentenced to execution 22 people in 15 minutes in Saghez, is called a "reformer." Today, Khatami, the former Minister of Islamic Guidance who censored books, films, the government-controlled press, music, and expression is called a "democrat" and "reformer." These criminals have not changed. The situation in Iran has. In reality, the factional infighting is because of the explosive situation in Iran.

Despite immense repression, the media blitz legitimizing the Islamic regime, and the use of cultural relativism to deny the universality of women's rights, women and people in Iran are resisting on a daily basis. The women's movement has never been so strong. During the July 1999 protests, the protesters, many of who were young women, attacked the symbols of this rule - banks, mosques and mullahs. Even female students in Qom, a city like the Vatican, have protested against segregation in their university. Even taxi drivers will not stop for mullahs anymore; recently a mullah showed up late to parliament because he could not get a cab until he went home and changed his clothes. This is the environment in Iran. The root of the protests is that an Islamic government is antithetical to people's needs and desires. If there is any opening in Iran, it is because of people's daily resistance, not Khatami. To say it is because of Khatami discounts people's aspirations and struggles to create a better life and live as human beings.

What will end women's oppression in Iran? A war against fundamentalism is not the answer as it is used only to divert people's wrath against all of religion. In addition, reinterpretations of Islam and the Koran will not liberate women; it is impossible to make human and pro woman that which is inhuman and misogynist. Khatami, too, cannot bring about freedom and equality or even reforms. People take reforms, freedom, and equality by force in the streets.

The Islamic "feminists," Western governments, their media, and pro Khatami "opposition," along with the Islamic regime, aim to legitimize women's oppression, ensure that women reconcile with the unbearable situation that has been forced upon them, and to divert women's struggle for equality and freedom. They are using any means necessary to maintain the Islamic regime, especially in the face of increasing protests in Iran. Those of us who are believe in freedom and equality, who believe that women in Iran deserve to live as human beings, we too must use any means necessary to defend women's and people's struggle to end this heinous regime.

While complete equality and freedom can only come about with an end to class exploitation, the first precondition for women's liberation not only in Iran but in other countries where Islamic laws are practiced, is an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran and an end to political Islam.

CONDEMN THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN'S SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL FREEDOMS IN NORTHERN IRAQ IFIR Secretariat March 20, 2000

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) recent arrests and banning of organizations and a threat to ban a party, which defend the rights of women, children, the aged and Iranian refugees are violations of human rights and in contravention of political freedoms in Northern Iraq.

On February 16, 2000, the PUK's security forces raided several homes, arrested, and imprisoned Socialists Fahd Nasser, Omar Sharif, and Yusef Mohammad. On February 17, the Office of the Aged, organized by the Union of Construction Workers, was shut down and Ostad Saber, its representative, was imprisoned. The Center for the Defense of Children's Rights has also been closed. Moreover, on March 5, the Deputy Interior Minister issued a grievance against the Worker Communist Party of Iraq (WCPI) demanding that the Party's activities be banned. In the grievance filed, the Deputy Interior Minister has claimed that the WCPI's defense of women's rights is in contradiction to the PUK's Islamic laws, and that the Party has helped organize illegal demonstrations in defense of refugees. An April 4 court date has been set to prosecute the WCPI.

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) strongly condemns the policies of the PUK, which are opposed to political freedoms in Iraqi Kurdistan. These policies support Islamic terrorism and political reaction in Kurdistan and promote an environment in which the rights of women, children, refugees and the aged can more easily be violated. An attack on the progressive segments of society is an all out attack on those they defend.

IFIR calls on groups and individuals to demand that the PUK immediately and unconditionally release those imprisoned and recognize political freedoms for all people as well as parties and organizations, including the WCPI, the Center for the Defense of Children's Rights, the Office of the Aged, and the International Federation of Iranian Refugees - Soleymanieh Branch office.

Protest letters, faxes and e-mails to the PUK can be sent to: 5 Glasshouse Walk, London SE1, England; fax: 011-44-171-840-0630 and 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 837, Washington, DC 20001; fax: 202-637-2723. The PUK's e-mail is puk@puk.org.

SAMPLE LETTER

5 Glasshouse Walk London SE1 England Fax: 011-44-171-840-0630

444 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 837 Washington, DC 20001 Fax: 202-637-2723

E-mail: puk@puk.org

To Whom It May Concern:

I / my organization am / is writing to condemn the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) arrest and imprisonment of activists defending the rights of women, children, the aged, people in general and Iranian refugees living in Northern Iraq.

I demand that the PUK immediately and unconditionally release those individuals who have been imprisoned, including Fahd Nasser, Omar Sharif, Yusef Mohammad, and Ostad Saber. I further demand that the PUK respect political freedoms and the right to organize for all individuals and groups including the Worker Communist Party of Iraq, the Center for the Defense of Children's Rights, the Office of the Aged, and the International Federation of Iranian Refugees - Soleymanieh Branch office.

I look forward to the immediate resolution of this urgent matter.

Signed: Name Organization, if any Address

SIT-IN OF IRANIAN REFUGEES IN IRAQI KURDISTAN SUCCESSFUL IFIR Secretariat February 28, 2000

The sit-in of 170 Iranian refugees, which began on February 6, 2000 in protest to the policies of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Soleymanieh office in Iraqi Kurdistan, ended successfully on February 17, 2000.

After numerous meetings between the UNHCR and Hagir Saeedi, the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) - Soleymanieh Branch Representative and others, the UNHCR agreed to address all refugee demands within 45 days, including:

* Register all refugees and provide refugee determination interviews, * Review rejected casefiles, * Re-commence third country resettlement interviews and transfers, * Increase resettlement quotas, and, * Provide financial and medical assistance.

In continuation of its campaign in defense of Iranian refugees in Northern Iraq, Maryam Namazie, IFIR's Executive Director, met with Foad Masoom, Political Bureau member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Dilshad Miran, Central Committee member of the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iraq. Namazie discussed the status of Iranian refugees and IFIR branches in Soleymanieh and Erbil. The representatives of the two ruling parties agreed to follow up on issues discussed, including formal recognition of IFIR branches in Northern Iraq.

IFIR congratulates groups and individuals who joined the campaign in defense of the sit-in participants and cautiously awaits the ruling parties' and the UNHCR's implementation of their pledges.

THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES IN AGRI ARE FORCED TO BACK DOWN IFIR Secretariat February 28, 2000

The Turkish government's assault on Iranian refugee rights, which began on January 26, 2000, in Agri, ended successfully with the intervention of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR), and other groups and individuals.

Last month, the Turkish police had accused all 500 Iranian refugees residing in the border town of Agri of entering Turkey legally and with passports though they had registered with the authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as having entered without official documents. With this blanket and unsubstantiated accusation, the Turkish police demanded that all refugees hand over their alleged passports or lose their temporary residency in Turkey, thereby facing refoulement (forcible return) to Iran.

Subsequent local and international protests forced the Turkish authorities to back down. According to the IFIR Representative in Agri, the situation in the border town has returned to normalcy.

The return to normalcy and an end to the climate of fear among refugees in Agri is the direct result of international solidarity and support. IFIR congratulates those who intervened on the refugees' behalf.

LISTEN TO IFIR'S WEEKLY RADIO PROGRAM

Listen to the International Federation of Iranian Refugees' weekly radio program, which discusses refugee and human rights issues as well as organizing efforts on Saturdays from 9:00pm to 9:15pm Tehran time on 41 meters short wave (7520 kilohertz). The program is broadcast via Radio International that can be heard in Iran, surrounding countries as well as in Europe. Radio International broadcasts daily programs from 9:00pm to 9:30pm.