مصاحبه مینوهمتی با شراره رضائی پیرامون قوانین زن ستیز اسلامی در ایران، این گقتگو در روز جمعه 8 فوریه 2013 از برنامه رهائی بسمت ایران ، منطقه، اروپا و آمریکای شمالی از کانال یک ماهواره پخش گردید.
متن مصاحبه برای خوانندگان انگلیسی زبان تهیه شده.
The English transcript of the Interview, which was broadcasted towards Iran, Middle East, Europe & North America, via Channel One Satellite in Rahai Zan TV Program.
Excerpt of a Television interview with Sharareh Rezaei, the secretary of Association for the Defence of Women and Children Rights-TEHRAN, and a member of the leadership of The Organization for Emancipation of Women (OEW) and the Editor of the OEW Journal. The interview was conducted by Mino Hemati, the director of the OEW and the producer and presenter of OEW TV.
Mino Hemati: What are the most
anti-women laws that the Islamic Republic
has adopted and implemented against women in Iran?
Sharareh Rezaei: When
the Islamic Republic came to power (1979), by adopting the Family Laws
based on Islam and Sharia they initiated an all sided attack against women and
imposed an all encompassing sexual apartheid on the country.
Some of these new Sharia based laws
were:
- Gender segregation in schools,
buses and Universities
- Abolishment of the right of women
to divorce and children’s custody
- Women’s share of inheritance were
reduced to that of half of men
- Women’s testimony before the court
of law was downgraded to that of half of men
- Age of marriage for girls was
lowered to 9 years of age.
- Polygamy and temporary marriage
were legalised
- Men were given the right to
physically and mentally punish their wives for disobeying them!
- Honour killings were tolerated and encouraged
- Stoning women to death were introduced and exercised
The above are just a sample of anti-women laws that were adopted and
implemented by the Islamic regime.
The introduction of these laws further increased anti-women views and
practices in the society. Backward and male chauvinist attitudes gained currency.
Women found to be flouting the sharia laws have been subjected to
severest punishment including torture, imprisonment and stoning.
Mino Hemati: What are the effects and
consequences of such misogynist laws?
Sharareh Rezaei: - In Iran while the number of girls in
higher education is higher than boys, nevertheless the number of women in
employment is only 11% of that of men. The introduction of Islamic based laws
has led to a dramatic increase in divorce; prostitution; temporary marriage
(Seigheh – legal prostitution) as well as increase in polygamy, honour related
violence and an increase in the number of children being born outside the
wedlock.
A large number of women and girls
have been expelled from their work places, universities and schools for
violating strict Islamic dress code.
All these mistreatments and
discriminations have been institutionalise and led to a total humiliation and
degradation of women.
Mino Hemati: What has been the reaction among
women and especially women's rights activists to women situation in Iran?
Sharareh Rezaei: Don’t be surprised if I say the struggle
and opposition to sexual apartheid and
discrimination has not stopped even for one
day. Women and girls constantly and on daily basis challenge “hijab”. They take on the authorities at every
opportunity knowing full well that such actions will carry retribution on the
part of the security forces not only against them but also their families will
be implicated.
Many of the women’s rights activists
are still in prison. A number of activists fearing for their lives have been
forced to flee the country.
The protest and opposition against
these laws are as old as the Islamic Republic. In 1980 more than 100,000 people
took to the street in protest against the imposition of compulsory hijab. In recent years a number of high profile
gatherings and protests have taken place in front of Tehran University
and “Laleh Park” ,
all against family laws and all its misogynist and anti-women
implications and against suppression of women.
Every year on the occasion of March 8th,
a number of gatherings and events are organised despite all the intimidation,
assault and arrest of the organisers and participants. Women activists also mark November 25th,
the international day against violence against women by organising meetings,
conferences and gatherings.
Mino Hemati: At the end of the interview do you
have any messages for our viewers?
Sharareh Rezaei: I would like to say that in a
society struck by sexual apartheid we all are victims. We are all being
subjected to oppression and degradation just because we are women. Our
suffering is indiscriminate. We all suffer and this calls for a collective
response.
We need to call on the international
public opinion and make them aware that the Islamic inspired sexual apartheid
is not any less abhorrent than racial apartheid that was universally
condemned. We must let the world know
that the emancipation of women in Iran is part and parcel of human
liberation and its progress. Struggle against the Islamic Republic should be
through siding and supporting women’s and workers movements in Iran
and not through economic sanctions and military assault on Iran by US and Israel.