Pauline Moorkens discusses the women-led revolution in Iran, how the fight for religious freedom is linked to one for gender equality, and the importance of media coverage.
“Jin, jiyan, azadi”[1]
Following the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on 16th September 2022, thousands of people have taken to the streets of Iran to express their outrage and demand political reform and criminal justice. Today, 6 months have passed, and more than 522 protestors have been killed.[2] The women-led revolution in Iran can be seen as a fight for religious freedom since it challenges the Islamic Republic’s strict interpretation of Islam and its imposition of religious laws on society, particularly on women. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has been governed by a theocratic regime that enforces strict Islamic laws and customs.[3] These laws include mandatory hijab, i.e., veiling, for women in public, strict rules on gender segregation, and limited access to education, employment, and political representation for women. Since Amini was murdered by the morality police for incorrectly wearing her veil, Iranian men and women have been at the forefront of a movement calling for greater freedom and equality. Women have organised protests, removed their hijabs in public, and campaigned for changes in laws that discriminate against women. However, 6 months later, calls for gender equality reached a tipping point with protesters all over Iran being sentenced to death. The country’s strict interpretation of Islam has sparked a movement to promote a more inclusive and tolerant understanding of the religion in the country and is decisive in more ways than one.[4]
For many women in Iran, the fight for religious freedom is also a fight for gender equality and human rights. They argue that the strict interpretation of Islam that the government enforces is discriminatory and violates their rights to freedom of expression, association, and religion. These rights, recognised by many intergovernmental organisations, merely act as an invitation as soft law instruments are not incorporated in every sovereign state. Therefore, the women-led revolution in Iran is not just a struggle for political or social rights, but also for legal protection and a constitutional shift. The importance of media in this issue cannot be undermined. Indeed, the media and more precisely the internet “encourages pluralism and provides opportunities for realizing freedom of expression” and is instrumental at a global level for a country where free press is not allowed.[5] The women-led revolution in Iran is a critically important social and political movement that exigencies extensive featuring throughout worldwide media for a number of reasons:
- Representation: Women in Iran are fighting for their rights and freedoms in a country that has long been known for its oppressive policies towards women. By featuring their struggle in the news, the world can witness their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Awareness: News coverage can bring greater awareness to the challenges and obstacles facing women in Iran. This can help to build empathy and understanding of the issues they are facing and can encourage more people to support their cause.
- Global impact: The women-led revolution in Iran has the potential to impact not just Iran, but the region and the world at large. By featuring this movement in the news, we can highlight the global significance of their struggle and encourage international support.
- Accountability: News coverage can hold governments and organizations accountable for their actions, or lack thereof. By featuring the women-led revolution.
One example of why the women-led revolution in Iran needs to be featured more in the news is the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh. Nasrin Sotoudeh is a prominent human rights lawyer and women’s rights activist who has been imprisoned by the Iranian government for her advocacy work. She has been sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for her activism, including defending women who have removed their mandatory hijabs in public. Nasrin Sotoudeh’s case has received international attention and condemnation, but it is just one of many examples of the Iranian government’s crackdown on women’s rights activists. Many women have been arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for their activism, and their cases often go unnoticed by the international community. By featuring these cases more prominently in the news, the world can become more aware of the Iranian government’s human rights abuses and the women who are risking their lives to fight for their rights. This increased awareness can lead to more international pressure on the Iranian government to release political prisoners, respect human rights, and create a more equal and just society. Additionally, greater media coverage of the women-led revolution in Iran can inspire and empower women in other parts of the world who are fighting for their rights and freedoms. The struggle of Iranian women is not just a local issue, but one that resonates with women in many other countries where gender inequality and discrimination persist. By featuring their stories, the news can help to build solidarity among women and create a global movement for gender equality and human rights.
Footnotes
[1] Bayram, S., Mohtasham, D., Iran’s protesters find inspiration in a Kurdish revolutionary slogan, 2022.
[2] AFP, At Least 522 Have Died in Iran Protests, Human Rights Report Says, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2023. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-death-count-human-rights-report/32224340.html#:~:text=At%20least%20522%20people%20have,security%20forces%2C%20the%20agency%20reported. Accessed February 15, 2023.
[3] Sadjadpour, K., Reading Khamenei: The World View of Iran’s Most Powerful Leader, 2019. Accessed February 15, 2003.
[4] Aarabi, K., Shelley, J., Protests and Polling Insights From the Streets of Iran: How Removal of the Hijab Became a Symbol of Regime Change, 2022.
[5] Bychawska-Siniarska, D., Protecting the Right to Freedom of Expression Under the European Convention on Human Rights, 2017.
Photo credit: Yasin AKGUL via AFP.
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