Iranian women held an IWD 2020 gathering in Stockholm, Sweden on February 29, 2020. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, sent a video message to this gathering, declaring the IWD 2020 as the Day of Women Martyred in the Iran Uprising in November 2019.
In part of her message to the Women Force for Change meeting in Stockholm, Mrs. Rajavi said:
On the eve of International Women’s Day (IWD 2020), I offer my congratulation on this day, which marks women’s struggle, sacrifice, and suffering to build a world free from exploitation, oppression and violence.
This year, International Women’s Day has taken on more meaning with the heroism of the arisen women in Iran and the blood of women killed in the protests in November.
On behalf of the Iranian people and Resistance, and in the name of my martyred and captive sisters, I declare 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD 2020) as the Day of Women Martyred in the Iran Uprising in November 2019.
Is the essence of the International Women’s Day not to uproot women’s misfortune?
Is it not true that we must eradicate patriarchy, violence and exploitation of women?
Is it not true that we must eliminate misogyny?
Thus, International Women’s Day is the day of our martyred sisters who targeted the religious fascism ruling Iran, the embodiment of misogyny and religious tyranny.
This is Iranian women’s blood-drenched resolve to achieve freedom and equality, which heralds the definite downfall of the mullahs’ regime.
In another part of her message, Mrs. Rajavi pointed out the role of women in the Iranian Resistance since the outset of the mullahs’ rule:
Since the 1980s, thousands of pioneering women, a vast majority from the PMOI, have died in the struggle against the clerical regime. Ashraf Rajavi led the way in this struggle.
During the difficult times in Ashraf, Iraq, PMOI women such as Zohreh Gha’emi, Giti Givehchian, Saba Haft-Baradaran, and Asiyeh Rakhshani offered their lives to keep aloft the flag of Iran’s freedom.
And today, in the ranks of Resistance Units and in the frontlines of the uprisings, courageous women of Iran are commanding the struggle to overthrow the mullahs’ misogynous tyranny.
Indeed, what better and clearer testament than such profound sense of responsibility and impact is needed to confirm the qualifications and competence of Iranian women.
The regime’s officials, commanders of Khamenei’s ruthless Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the state media have repeatedly spoken of the leading role of young women in the uprisings. They have acknowledged that these women were leaders of the gatherings and protests in November 2019 and January 2020. Yes, it is true.
The more significant truth, however, is that these vanguard women, who are at the forefront of the struggle for regime change, will ultimately bring down the religious fascism.
Underlining the fact that “the era of the mullahs’ misogynous tyranny has come to an end,” Maryam Rajavi once again enumerated her ten-point plan for the rights and freedoms of women in tomorrow’s free Iran:
The brave women of Iran have come to the scene not only for their own freedom, but for the freedom of Iran and Iranians. They have come to lead the struggle of Iranian society towards freedom, democracy and equality.
What they say and demand is that women from every nationality, religion, or social class must enjoy equal rights with men in all economic, social and political arenas.
The belief in a particular religion must not be the cause for humiliating or depriving women of access to job opportunities, educational resources or seeking justice.
In the post-mullahs Iran, women will be free to choose their attire. The law on compulsory veil will be abolished.
Polygamy and child marriage will be prohibited.
In the job market, women must enjoy equal opportunities and receive equal pay and benefits for equal work with men.
Women must particularly enjoy the right to equal participation in the country’s political leadership.
The unflinching resolve of the Iranian people, Resistance and arisen women will turn these prospects into reality.
The Iranian opposition leader hailed the arisen women of Iran and Iraq, and called on the audience to do whatever in their power to support the Iranian people’s uprising and Resistance Units in Iran:
- Persistently urge international bodies, particularly organizations advocating women’s rights and human rights, to strongly condemn the regime’s massacre of more than 1,500 protesters, especially women protesters.
- Urge the European Union, particularly the Government of Sweden, to pressure the regime to allow a fact-finding mission to visit Iran to investigate the conditions of women political prisoners.
- Inspire governments to recognize the right of the Iranian people and youth to wage resistance against the Revolutionary Guards and other suppressive organs, and to recognize the Iranian people’s struggle for regime change and the establishment of freedom.
- Wherever you are, as supporters of Resistance Units and uprisings in Iran, always think about what you can do to advance their struggle. And put the responsibility to support Resistance Units and to ensure the continuation of the uprisings on your shoulders and move forward in step with the uprisings at all times.
