Friends, I asked a US-Iranian friend, if she could arrange an interview or dialogue with a woman currently living in Iran. I was horrified by what happened to Zhina Mahsa Amini, and I wanted to understand more of the world she inhabited. This was my inquiry:
I would be interested in their experience of feeling historically subjugated there, particularly as a woman. And their view of recent events, the morality police, what has to happen before a true and complete liberation can occur.
My friend then connected with her friend—an Iranian man—and he made this inquiry of a female activist, living in Iran. She answered in Farsi, and my friend’s mother has provided the translation. I want to share this with you, both because her voice must be heard, and because the mainstream media is simply not bringing enough attention to the horrors that are perpetuated in Iran. We must…
In the words of this brave, sacred activist:
“Summary of the life of a twenty-two year old female in Iran.
Imagine this, you were born into a liberal family in Iran, post-Iranian Revolution, where Regime laws were immediately set in place.
At age seven, you're forced to wear a headscarf, that not only covers your hair, but must also cover your neck, in order to attend school and receive an education.
From that day on, gender segregation permeates every aspect of your life; you will never be in the same classroom as your male friends. Unbeknownst to you, gender segregation is driven by higher institutions.
When you turn twelve-years old, your school organizes an event to celebrate "women" reaching the age of maturity, known as, "The Fest of Duty" (Jashn-e Taklif).
This religious ceremony is designed to instill Islamic beliefs and values in young girls upon the age of twelve. As of that day, you are told that you must prepare yourself for the daily prayers, and attendance of your institution's prayer room. If you fail to abide by this rule, then your grades will suffer, and there will be consequences.
Any male figure whom is not part of your immediate family is not allowed to see you without a headscarf, as they can have sexual intentions upon you after this age. Your favorite uncle, is now considered a threat to your modesty. Within this doctrine, you are told that if you do not abide by God's command, then you shall face his wrath. In Hell, you will be hung by your hair, with flames burning underneath your feet.
Despite this being a forced law and social norm, most families (varying from different religious backgrounds and values) do not always follow this.
In every classroom, an authority figure attends, whom is known as a "Minister of Education" (Moaleme Parvareshi) who assists in overseeing and teaching Islamic values in the classroom (K-12). This tactical position of Ministers in the classroom, controls one's comportments, beliefs, and general demeanor in society; particularly within the Islamic Regime of Iran. Such figures are placed in these classrooms to "prevent" students from deviating from the "correct" path within society.
Finally, at the age of eighteen years-old, you are now able to attend University in the same classroom as men; to be clear, this is the first time you've attended school with the opposite sex. Considering that this is a progressive feat, Government Officials continue to push gender segregation agendas to Universities, claiming that it will contribute to the progression of science and knowledge. Given such beliefs, cafeterias continue to remain segregated in universities.
Once you enter into society, you unfortunately realize the disparate distinctions of Rights between Men and Women. Some of which, can be seen as the following:
· If you get killed, your killer's wergild (also known as man price or blood money where a monetary value is put on a person) is 1/2 of a man's wergild. If the killer has issues with you or your brother, the consequences of killing you is much less than killing your brother
· If you witness a crime and want to speak in court, your witness is counted as 1/2. That means it takes 2 adult female to testify compare to 1 adult male.
· Until the rest of your life you don’t have the permission to leave the country without the agreement of your father and post marriage the agreement of your husband.
· If you get married, your father must come and allow in documentation. You cannot get married without the physical presence of your father.
· If you want to divorce your husband, you can only do so with a judge's order, while your husband can receive one, just be verbally declaring it.
· Your husband has the right to be engaged to a maximum of three women, however, if you commit infidelity during marriage, you will be stoned to death.
· If you end up getting divorced the court gives the custody right to the father or if the father is not present the rights is given to the fathers family.
In this Patriarchal society, you are considered a second-class citizen, and one-half of a person.
You are now twenty-years old, and you begrudgingly know your position in society. One day, you walk on the streets of Tehran with your brother, and a black van suddenly stops in front of you. You quickly realize, this type of van only belongs to the Morality Police, in other words, the religious police.
Upon separation between you and your brother, they arrest you—you are now a criminal.
Your crime?
Showing more hair than what is allowed in public.
You enter a dark space, filled with other fearful eyes looming on you, while hearing the degrading shouting of, "Bitch, "Whore," and "Shame to your family.” Immediately, they take your phone away — you cry, you fear for your life, and what is to come. The Morality Police then tell you that it's okay, and give you a statement of your crime, and take you to the Police station. You have no choice but to comply, even if you tell them that you will not commit the crime again.
You've now arrived at a detention center; your family, friends, and brother have no idea where you are. The officers then take a mugshot of you, in order to build a case against you. In those hours, nobody else knows what becomes of you, except a routine disciplinary lecture reminding you of your "crime." This was the fate of Zhina Mahsa Amini. Had it not been for her brother, she would have died without a name.
This is not an isolated issue—in fact, this is a typical scenario for any woman living under the Islamic Republic. Zhina Mahsa Amini's death was one to have gone viral, particularly due to the power of social media. If it were not for the influence of social media, the support and solidarity of men, tenacity and strength of women, and outrage from all Iranians, this murder would been concealed, and considered another tragedy, outside of one's control.
For other women to not suffer the same fate as Zhina Mahsa Amini, we must rid Iran of the Islamic Republic, and start anew with the flourishment of Human rights; especially Women's right's.”
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Dearest Jeff,
💔Thank you so much for extending compassion to actively listen and seek understanding of those fighting for their lives in this horrendous battle against oppression. And thank you for bringing this to Light for us to share with others. I believe that's how change happens, people to people, human to human, hand to hand connection across boundaries of fear❣️