The pictures you see are representative of the position of women in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The former apartheid regime in South Africa was known and despised for its racial discrimination by people all around the world; the distinguishing feature of the Islamic Republic of Iran is its discrimination against women and sexual apartheid.
From its establishment, the Islamic regime in Iran has deprived women of their most basic rights and legitimate demands and brutally attacked them under any excuse be it the colour and form of their dress, makeup, hairstyle, and for anything from dancing to having an extra-marital relationship. At times women's laughter has been deemed an offence punishable by imprisonment, flogging, threats, and humiliation. The segregation of men and women at universities and schools, municipal buses and in public spaces is one aspect of its policy of sexual apartheid. Millions have been persecuted and or fled the country due to their transgression of Sharia codes. Despite these atrocities, women have not surrendered and have intensified their struggle. Transgressing compulsory veiling is one such example.
Every summer the regime harasses and arrests those it deems to be ‘badly veiled' on the streets, at schools, universities, work places, factories and even at private gatherings and parties. However, last year it stepped up its assault on women beginning in April. Hundreds of thousand of women received summons, were assaulted, detained and flogged. Hundreds of boutiques and hair dressers were shut down. However, due to large scale resistance, especially on the part of youth and women, the regime did not succeed in realising its plan. The second stage of the attacks started in July and is still in effect.
The increased attack against women is part and parcel of a general attack against the people's struggle in Iran against the Islamic regime. In addition to attacking women, it has increased executions, and imprisoned even more political prisoners. The workers who were detained on May Day have been sentenced to imprisonment and flogging. A large number of university students have been suspended; students have been arrested and tortured. This is the regime's reaction to the unrelenting struggle against the Islamic Republic in Iran . And despite the repression the struggle continues full force. It deserves unconditional international support.
Equal Rights Now – Organisation against Women's Discrimination in Iran calls on all parties and organisations, and people across the world to support the struggle of the Iranian people, condemn the Islamic Republic, demand an end to sexual apartheid, compulsory veiling and discrimination against women, and put pressure on governments everywhere to isolate the regime politically and shut down its embassies.
The Islamic Republic of Iran must face the same international condemnation as the apartheid regime of South Africa.