Women of Iranian Resistance Have Held Crucial Roles for Three Decades
Following is the full text of remarks by Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, Chair of the NCRI Women’s Committee at the IWD2024 Conference in Paris.
Dear friends,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my distinct honor to welcome you to our annual International Women’s Day Conference. I am delighted that we have gathered today from corners far and wide, united by a shared vision for a future filled with equality and devoid of discrimination. This is the secret of our sisterly bond.
International Women’s Day serves not only as a celebration of the milestone achieved by the women’s movement, but also as a reminder of a journey that lies ahead and the goals yet to be attained.
Let me extend my heartfelt greetings to the brave Iranian women and girls who during the uprising of 2022 courageously confronted the oppressive forces of Khamenei, shining a light on the flagrant actions of a misogynistic regime.
As we commemorate International Women’s Day, it is crucial to remember that Iranian women political prisoners who persist in their struggle against the regime’s torture and imprisonment.
I wish to highlight the case of Maryam Akbari Monfared, one of the longest held female political prisoners. At the end of her 15-year sentence, she was again sentenced to three more years in prison.
Her main offense is that she is seeking justice for her martyred sister and three brothers. Two of her brothers were killed in the early 1980s, and a sister and a brother were killed during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. Mrs. Akbari has endured over 15 years in various prisons without a single day off for medical treatment.
We salute her and all women political prisoners.
Dear friends,
For over four decades, Iranian women have been at the forefront of the struggle for their rights, displaying incredible courage against the regime’s brutal repression. Their bravery, as attested by the world, is deeply rooted in a century-long resistance against the Shah’s and the Mullahs’ dictatorships.
Since the beginning of the Mullahs’ rule, women played a special role in our movement. For this reason, in the past 39 years, under Mrs. Rajavi’s leadership, the issue of women and equality has been at the heart of our movement’s focus.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran’s Plan on Women’s Freedoms and Rights, released in April 1987, predates the Fourth World Congress on Women in Beijing by eight years, marking a significant milestone with regards to equality.
With such a profound legacy, Iranian women today stand as vanguards of the uprising, leading the charge with courage and bravery.
Indeed, while discussions about equality are common, tangible outcomes often lag. However, within the resistance movement, women have not only been vocal advocates for change, but they have taken on the most crucial roles for over three decades.
The Central Council of PMOI, entirely composed of women, stands as a decision-making body within the PMOI, showcasing a practical embodiment of gender equality in action.
Dear friends,
Women have made significant strides towards achieving equal rights, yet we also acknowledge the lengthy journey that remains.
In closing, I am inspired to echo the profound remarks by Mrs. Zahra Merrikhi, the Secretary-General of the PMOI, who describes the struggle of women in this way, “There either is a way that must be paved, or a way that we must build on our own.”
Once again, I thank each and every one of you for your presence here today. Thank you very much.
