International Women’s Day, 2005

End to Unequal Legislation

March 8 is the International Women’s Day, a day when women around the world celebrate their achievements and affirm their commitment to make further advances in the struggle against male chauvinism, a day that embodies the unity of women around the world.

March 8 this year comes at a time when the women’s movement in Iran has made its impression on Iranian society. It’s existence is undeniable. Its presence and its demands, have brought a fresh air to the democratic struggle of the people in Iran. Other struggles are adopting our demands, the execution of Atefe (the 16 year old girl) becomes the indication of shame for the regime, and we were able to stop the execution of Afsane Nourouzi….

This is all the result of 25 years of struggle. Struggle against forced veil, against executions, stoning, medieval family laws and honor killings…. The result of the struggle against centuries-old traditions that are concentrated in unequal laws and Islamic retribution against women, laws that have made our lives hell on earth.

Courageously, alone but in their multitude, the Iranian women went against these laws, didn’t step back and slowly but surely scraped off the foundations of this hated regime. The days of the Islamic Republic are numbered. Misogynist propaganda of its media, backward mutterings of its parliamentarians and the execution verdicts of its judges are all desperate efforts to hold on to their rule.

This regime is living its last days. And today various flags are competing to define the course of our society and seize the fate of women. The US is threatening militarily, the Europeans are negotiating, pro-referendum forces are collecting signatures… But the liberation of women has no place in any of these alternatives. Once they stole the fruits of our struggles and imposed 25 years of obscurantism on us. We will not let it happen again. Today the women’s movement is standing tall, its demands are clear, with great potential of sacrifice for its cause, and knowledge of friend and foe. Today we have both the knowledge and the power to reap the results of 25 years of non-stop and daily struggles. It is time to unite in struggle against all the unequal laws and Islamic punishments against women and start our march towards the liberation of women so that no male-chauvinist, neither clergy nor king, can impose this medieval legislation on us.

8 March Women’s Organization (Iranian – Afghanistani)

8 March 2005