Iran

Iran is one of the oldest civilizations in history, dating back to 4000 B.C.E. At one point in history, the Persian Empire was a leading superpower. From the 15th century until the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran was a monarchy. The popular uprising against [Page 768]the shah culminated in the Islamic Republic and rule by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran is home to 72 million people, 66 percent of whom are under the age of 30. Women have a rich history of power and influence in Iran, but the institutionalization of conservative Islam has severely restricted women and much of their status and rights have been rescinded. However, Iranian women continue to draw on their history and culture to fight for equal rights.

Throughout Iranian history women have had a great influence. The fictional character of Scheherazade celebrates women's wit and intelligence. The female poet Tahirih inspired the Tahirih Justice Center, just as the beauty of Mumtaz Mahal led to the Taj Mahal.

Fight for the Modern Woman

Transcript

• To women entering this shop in Tehran, a message saying ‘All clothes sold here have been approved by the police’. The length and size of coats, nothing too short, nothing too tight, and mostly in black; the shape and design of scarves obliged to cover the hair and neckline. Women who shop here know there’s no risk of getting a warning or being arrested for indecency.
• A few years ago the scarves were much too short to cover our hair. Now, yes, it’s so much better.
• And to make sure the rules are being followed, inspectors often come by to check.
• If there are clothes which are too tight or don’t follow the Islamic dress code or the orders given to us, then the police ask us to remove them.
• Since last June, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government has stepped up the pressure on women. There are now even more teams of policemen and women patrolling the streets to enforce the dress code. They issue warnings or even arrest women who they consider to be flouting the rules.
• And now, a new surveillance campaign has begun. An updated list of clothes deemed illegal was published in the Iranian press. The list is getting longer and longer. This year, for example, it’s forbidden to wear boots over jeans. But not everyone goes along with the rules.
• There’s no way I’m going to wear the clothes they want us to wear. Today I saw a police patrol; I was so frightened that I took a taxi just to go across the square. My sister’s been stopped. She had to sign an agreement promising she’d dress correctly.
• Police don’t normally hold women for long, but detentions are becoming more and more common, and that’s a cause for concern, say women’s rights campaigners.
• Under the previous government, there simply weren’t this many women arrested because of their clothes. This year, the number of arrests has increased massively.
• Women who ignore the dress codes know that only too well. Many are paying a high price for trying to hang on to hard-fought freedoms.

The Persian Women's Movement dates back to the early 20th century, when Iranian women began their fight for the “modern woman,” which included the vote, change in family laws, and access to education. In 1937, women gained the right to higher education, and became professors, doctors, lawyers, and government officials. In 1963, women won the right to vote and prior to the revolution women served as ambassadors and ministers. Through the 20th century, even with the moderate Sharià Laws instated by the shah, women continued to make advancements in political, social and economic rights. Women were very active in the populist uprising against the shah, but with the rise of the rule of conservative Islam, women lost almost all of the gains they had made through the last 100 years. In 1968, Farrokhroo Parsa had become the first female minister of education, but was executed during the revolution.

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