On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran hosted a conference to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD2025). The event gathered distinguished political leaders, human rights advocates, and supporters of the Iranian Resistance from over 80 countries.
Opening the conference, Ms. Sarvnaz Chitsaz, Chair of the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, delivered a speech, the text of which is presented below.
Iranian Women: A Force for Change Against Tyranny
Distinguished guests, dear friends,
On behalf of the Iranian women’s resistance, especially the NCRI Women’s Committee and the organizers of this conference, I welcome all of you and thank you for joining us to celebrate International Women’s Day.
For our resistance movement, marking International Women’s Day is not just holding an important global occasion. Rather, it has deep roots in our belief in the issue of women and the equality movement.
Women’s Resistance: The Driving Force in the Struggle for Freedom and Equality
Moreover, in the struggle against the misogynist regime ruling Iran, women are the force of change. For our movement, the issue of women has never been just a slogan or an idea.
For the last four decades, the issue of women and the equality movement has been the primary issue on the road to liberate Iran from the ruling of religious fascism.
In this regard, the structure of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, the key component of the National Council of Resistance, underwent a fundamental change where a woman assumed its leadership with all the difficulties and hardships about which you are fully aware.
Not least because even in a democratic country and on the global scale, we see that the issue of women’s leadership and gender parity have not yet been resolved and not borne fruit.
Women’s Leadership: A Vital Leap in the Fight Against Misogyny
Many of you who attended last year’s conference on International Women’s Day recall Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s speech in which she said the following about the imperative and importance of women in leadership. And I quote, “Shattering the spell of inequality is impossible without a significant leap forward. This leap involves the ascendancy of women, which held particular significance in our battle against misogynistic dictatorship and proved women’s active and equitable involvement in political leadership and other authoritative roles as indispensable.”
She continues, and I quote, “But what does the hegemony of women entail? Is it about sharing power with men? No, it’s not. It represents an emancipatory development. Women’s leadership goes beyond attaining managerial roles or sharing in male-dominated power dynamics. Instead, it aims to redefine the nature of power itself.” End of the quote.
Women’s Hegemony: Not to Share in Male Power, But to Transform It
Indeed, the struggle of Iranian women, especially within the resistance movement, has never been merely about the rights of women. While it began with the issue of women and equality, men and women in the ranks of our resistance pursue a struggle to overthrow the ruling regime and establish democracy in Iran.
This has been entirely due to Mrs. Rajavi’s enormous efforts, the tremendous price she has paid, and her teachings.
Honoring the Women Who Have Paved the Way for Freedom
On International Women’s Day, we praise all the sacrifices by women to pave the way for equality and freedom across the globe.
We know that with all the progress already made, we women can and must continue our efforts until we achieve the ultimate outcome. Because we are fully aware that freedom will not be presented to us on a silver platter. We must persevere on this path.
In conclusion, allow me to laud all those struggling for freedom, especially Iran’s rebellious women in the ranks of the Resistance Units and women political prisoners suffering in the ruling theocracy’s prisons.
I salute my sisters in Ashaf-3, the 1,000 women who are an inspiration to Iranian women and girls who have arisen and defied the misogynist regime in the streets, on the university campuses, and in the workplace.
I again thank you all for joining us in the conference and with a salutation to all women who are striving for freedom and equality and with a faith in “women-resistance-freedom.” Thank you all.
