By Published On: May 19, 2023Categories: NEWS
Struan Stevenson, renowned Middle East analyst and coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change, outlined the dire situation of Iranian women in an article for Issues and Insights on May 15.

Struan Stevenson, renowned Middle East analyst and coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change, outlined the dire situation of Iranian women in an article for Issues and Insights on May 15.

 

 

His in-depth report serves as a piercing outcry against the regime’s crackdown on female protestors, a primary catalyst of the ongoing nationwide uprising in Iran.

Stevenson, a seasoned politician, served as a Member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), President of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14), and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). His work in the field of Iranian political freedoms is highlighted by his chairmanship of the ‘In Search of Justice’ committee.

The brutal killing of Kurdish girl Mahsa Amini by the morality police for improper hijab wearing last September sparked a movement, which has placed women’s rights at the core of the unrest. Schoolgirls joining the protests were harshly rebuked by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an act that was followed by a series of toxic chemical attacks on schools.

 

 

Efforts by the regime to suppress the uprising, including a temporary retraction of the morality police and the appointment of new police chief Ahmadreza Radan, have had little effect. Rather than appease the protestors, the regime’s actions, including the installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces to monitor women’s clothing and the closure of businesses serving unveiled women, have fanned the flames of dissent.

The regime’s repression extends to educational institutions as well, with many students, particularly those involved in protests, being suspended or expelled. The case of Niloufar Mirzaii, a female student arrested and subsequently suspended from Al-Zahra University, is one of many similar cases.

 

In an alarming escalation, renowned actresses Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram were arrestedand charged with “the crime of removing their hijab in public.”

In an alarming escalation, renowned actresses Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram were arrestedand charged with “the crime of removing their hijab in public.”

 

 

Despite the brutalities, the opposition, led by the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), continues the protests undeterred. Marching through Tehran and other cities, these Resistance Units openly chant against the regime. Despite facing potential death penalties, their resolve remains strong.

Stevenson concludes by acknowledging the four decades of hardship the Iranian people have endured under the current regime and urges the West to support the protestor’s fight for a free and secular Iran. The plight of Iranian women has brought to the surface long-standing discontent, and despite continued suppression, the fight for change rages on.

 

 

 

 


MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her siteTwitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

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