Misogyny is the characteristic of the religious dictatorship ruling Iran; it’s not a coincidence that women are at the forefront of the resistance
Despite the discrimination and deprivation today, they are very brave and are fighting for change
I am certain that one day, equality between women and men will be a reality in Iran, a historic reality even in that part of the world
On May 9, 2024, members of the Italian parliament and senate held a press conference announcing the support of the majority of members of the Parliament of Italy for the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the Ten-Point Plan of the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi.
At this press conference, Ms. Naike Gruppioni, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament, said:
Good evening and thank you very much. I am very happy to see all of you and that together we can move forward with today’s issue.
First, I would like to pay tribute to all the participants and in particular to my colleagues, Senator Giulio Maria Terzi, Elisabetta Zamparutti, and Excellency Emanuele Pozzolo. We are also waiting for our other colleagues.
I want to begin this session with three words that are crucial to me, addressing my Iranian sisters: women, resistance, and freedom. Today, I want to clearly and firmly state this and reiterate women, resistance, and freedom.
The Italian Parliament and the House of Representatives felt this responsibility and signed a majority statement condemning human rights violations in Iran and the regime’s interference in the Middle East.
The religious dictatorship ruling Iran is characterized by misogyny and a brutal repression policy that started with discrimination against women and has expanded into a cruel and violent regime.
But this is not accidental that over time the Iranian regime’s policies have removed women systematically from social activities in an unjust way.
I’m sure that if in Iran, women were allowed to be in the judiciary system and play a decisive role in the society, today, everything would have gone differently as they would have been an obstacle or more than that, like a thorn in the eyes of this regime. Even with the very harsh compulsory hijab law imposed on women, discrimination that occurs in the matter of family, and child marriage to protect children is horrible and hideous.
On the other hand, it’s not a coincidence that these women are resisting the regime as pioneers. Despite the deprivations, discriminations, and referring to them as second-class citizens, they are struggling with the injustices and inequalities today with a lot more courage than men. They want change and are fighting for it.
If we do not face these problems today and don’t support them in their struggle for their rights, democracy, and ignore the basic rights that have been denied to them, we who are completely aware of our role in society will be in a lower position in front of those who want to build their fate.
If the leadership of women in the Iranian resistance is real, and the president of the National Council Resistance of Iran, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, is a woman, just imagine what they could do if the regime did not try to restrain them and prevent them from reaching freedom. Well, if I confidently state today that we must stand by them with their same eagerness to fight alongside the Iranian Resistance, it is because I firmly believe in their potential for success and in our potential for success.
It’s thanks to the strength, courage, and determination of these women. I am certain that one day, equality between women and men will be a reality in Iran, a historic reality even in that part of the world.
I will briefly address the points mentioned in the platform for the future of a democratic Iran: The abolishment of the death penalty and a non-nuclear Iran that is also devoid of weapons of mass destruction. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi traveled to Italy several times and I had the honor of meeting her and listening to her talks. I also had the opportunity to be in Paris with her last July and recently in March, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
I am confident that with her motivation and our support, we will finally achieve the abolition of any form of discrimination, the right to choose one’s own clothing freely, and the right to obtain education and employment. We will witness the prohibition of all forms of exploitation against women under any pretext in Iran.
