Interview with Azar Majedi (chairperson of organization of women’s liberation and head of politburo of Worker-Communist Party of Iran)
Question: International women’s day is close. Let us first congratulate people in Iran, people all over the world, you and OWL in the celebration of this important historical day. For introduction I want to ask you that after 27 years of Islamic Regime ruling how is women’s situation in Iran? And also how is women movement for liberty and equality in Iran?
Azar Majedi: let me also congratulate all freedom-loving women and Women’s liberation movement.
For the past 27 years Iranian society has lived under an absolute misogynist state. Misogynic ideology and oppression of women is a fundamental characteristic and an ideological base of this regime. Indeed male chauvinism has always been a dominant ideology in Iranian society. Country’s legislation was based on Islamic laws and traditions, particularly where it defined women’s rights and family relations. Iran under the monarchist dictatorship was not secular either. But there is a significant difference between these two regimes vis a vis women’s rights.
Women’s oppression, segregation, sexual apartheid and Islamic Hijab are the ideological banner of Islamic Republic. They constitute the core of its reactionary platform and “jihad” on any progressive and libertarian values and principles. Islamic Republic came to being with the objective of crushing the 1979 revolution in which leftist trends were dominant. This counter revolution was launched with the banner of Islam. In the process an Islamic movement was formed for witch women’s inferior position occupies and important ideological status. From the outset of the of Islamic Republic’s inception an all-out war was proclaimed on women. And still today after 27 years the regime is trying to impose its Islamic misogynist laws and values on the society. Many girls and women have been flogged, imprisoned, raped, hanged and stoned.
However, Iranian society presents a complex entity where it regards women’s status and image. The reality of women’s social status in the eyes of the society is completely different than that of the official status, i.e. the status expressed and defined in the law and by dominant traditions. The real female image contradicts that of the official Islamic image. Women have earned a higher status in the eyes of the society than the status the state and governing laws assign to them.
This we owe to a very strong and vibrant women’s resistance movement, that is, women’s liberation movement. The fact that Islamic Republic from the outset faced a resistance to its efforts to enforce anti-women’s laws and to impose an “Islamic female image” is a telling evidence of this resistance movement. This movement has grown considerably over the years, it has become more radical, more mature, and it now has a more clear identity.
The young generation has transformed the image of the woman in Iran.
This generation does not compromise its demands and aspirations. It emphasizes its independent and human identity. It stands bravely against Islamic Laws, veil and sexual apartheid. It ridicules religious rules.
The wide spread clashes of Hezb’allah thugs with women for not observing the veil properly and for violation of sexual apartheid laws, is a clear example of this. The ingenious unique fashion created by Iranian women is amazing. Look at the pictures of these stylish young women with so-called hejab, it has nothing to do with the Islamic hejab. They even ridiculed the Islamic veil. The libertarian and egalitarian slogans in demonstrations and gatherings are another example of this strong movement.
65% of university entries are women, in a country under such restrictive rules for keeping women at home, with the most segregationist legislation. This is not an isolated or accidental event. In the past years this figure has risen annually, from around 30% to 65. This demonstrates the determination of women in Iran to defy the rules, to resist the laws, and to try and change the conditions.
Iranian society has changed considerably. The aspiration and the culture of people conflict with the dominant culture and values. The society is near explosion. The birth of the new, modern, liberated and independent woman is in waiting. Women’s liberation movement is a strong social movement in Iran. It is in the process of unveiling not only women but the whole society from the backwardness, antiquated and outmoded laws, traditions and culture. It constitutes one of the principal social movement against the Islamic Republic. The women’s liberation movement in Iran is very unique.
Question: what OWL (organization for woman’s liberation) and Worker-Communist Party are going to do in order to strongly celebrate this day?
Azar Majedi: As it regards Iran, we are working hard to create a social atmosphere and mood for the celebration of 8 March. We have allocated a good part of our TV programmes in NCTV to he issue of women’s right, equality and 8 March. We aim at bringing 8 March to people’s home, to make as many people as possible aware of this important day and its significance. We also try to mobilize for the celebration of this day, introduce slogans which can be used nationally, and create an atmosphere of unity and like-mindedness among the activists. we are trying to connect the activists. With our televised propaganda we are trying to make 8 of March one of society’s most important issues. We want to bring 8th of March to the home of people. Furthermore, we are working with our members inside the country to organise different gatherings in different cities, trying to prepare for the events.
Abroad we have organized an important international conference in Cologne, Germany. OWL with Committee against Stoning and Campaign against Sharia Courts have organized this conference to launch a new campaign against honour killing in Germany, named “Never Forget Hatun,” the young woman who was murdered last February in Berlin by his younger brother in front of her 5 year old son. This conference will also focus on political Islam, secularism, and gender apartheid. Some well known international figures take part in this conference, such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Mina Ahadi, Maryam Namazie. There some activists from Germany and myself among the speakers. We also celebrate 8 March in other countries such as Sweden, Norway, Canada and England.
We are trying to organize an international movement against Sexual Apartheid. We are trying to persuade the world to look at sexual apartheid in the same way that it looks at racial apartheid. At the moment we have a very good international situation for achieving this goal.
Question: in the current situation what demands and slogans should be raised by libertarian and egalitarian women movement?
Azar Majedi: women have many demands. Unconditional freedom and full equality are fundamental and major demands of women. We have clearly expressed and formulated these demands in “a Better World”, our party programme. But there are some specific slogans that should be raised for 8 March. These include: Long Live Women’s Liberation, No to Hijab, No to Sexual Apartheid, stop woman’s oppression. These slogans are expressing immediate demands of women. Moreover, the slogans against the veil and gender apartheid targets the foundation of Islamic regime.
Question: today the opposition of two terrorist poles, American state terrorism and Islamic terrorism, has made a hell out of world people lives. What libertarian and egalitarian women movement can do in opposing this situation?
Azar Majedi: Movements in defence of women’s rights have traditionally risen against militaristic and nuclear movements. As it regards women’s liberation movement in Iran, we should also emphasis the negative, oppressive, and destructive role of the terrorist conflict. Women’s liberation movement can have an important role to mobilize the “civilized humanity” and the “third pole” that Mansoor Hekmat talked about in his opposition to terrorists’ war.
We have tried to expose women’s oppression and its relation to political Islam and Islamic terrorism, in one hand and Western and American state terrorism, on the other. We have met with some success. We should continue our struggle in this front and fight for this aim. This is especially important now, with the possibility of American military attack on Iran and the start of another terrorist war. This war will be detrimental to the region and will have tragic consequences for the humanity.
Question: what role can 8 of March play in people fight for overthrown the Islamic Republic?
Azar Majedi: Women’s liberation movement is one of the main social movements opposing the Islamic Republic. Since women’s oppression, veil and gender apartheid are among fundamental elements of Islamic identity and ideology, women’s liberation movement stands against the whole existence of the regime. Any achievement by this movement constitute a heavy set back for the state. This is why we witness continuous clashes of the security forces and the Hezb’ allah thugs with women. 8 March is the day women will demonstrate and express their aspiration and opposition to mail chauvinist and misogynist values and laws.
foundamental tion of movement for overthrown the Islamic Republic. Islamic Republic can’t resist the Women’s liberation movement simply because it can’t give up women oppression and especially Hijab and Sexual Apartheid. So to confront Islamic Republic on these issues is fighting with their bases and foundations. Because of this we can say that woman’s struggles and movement for women’s liberation is in a direct confrontation with Islamic Republic. Any action for defending these goals and demanding is a direct attack against Islamic Regime bases.
Question: what is your message to egalitarian movement of women’s for celebrating this day as strong as possible?
Azar Majedi: I want to ask all of the libertarian man and women to struggle for a magnificent celebration of 8th of March. Prepare for this day in the short period remained. Scrabble on walls. Write the slogan of “long live women’s liberty” and “long live 8th of March” in every wall and everywhere you can. Discuss and talk about this day in workplace, school, university, taxies and buses. Use the special red ribbons that have been made like a Latin 8 and has slogan of “long live women’s liberty”. We should try to change the society atmosphere in these days so question of women’s liberty and 8th of March can be the main issue in whole society. Women wants and expectations should be the subject of group talk and discussion. We should feel 8th march in every place. In these days we have an ideal situation to make “women’s liberty groups” and struggle, more organized and centralized, for women’s liberty.
In Tehran we have heard of a gathering in Laleh Park in 4:30 pm. I hope people join this event as much as they can. We should try for organize same gatherings in different cities.8th of March - International Women’s day- is a day for women to shout against women’s oppression. it Is a day to fight man chauvinism. It is a day to fight for liberty and equality of man and woman.
The above was translated from Azar Majedi interview from 128th issue of “International” the Persian paper of Worker-Communist Party of Iran.