Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Women Facing Handmaid’s Tale Dystopia In Real Life
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 December 2024
· Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Women Facing Handmaid’s Tale Dystopia In Real Life
· ArîfeBekir Of The Syrian Women's Council: Women Must Shape The Future Of The New Syria
· Female Administrators Stress Role Of Women In Building New Syria
· Last Door Closes On Women’s Education In Afghanistan
· Female Literacy Rate Up 2.5 Times After Islamic Revolution
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-women-nobel-laureate-narges/d/134144
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Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi: Iranian Women Facing Handmaid’s Tale Dystopia In Real Life
DECEMBER 25, 2024
Women in central London gathered to support the victims of Iran’s mandatory hijab policies, demonstrating in costumes from The Handmaid’s Tale on Nov. 8, 2024
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Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has drawn parallels between the oppressive system described in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and the systemic control of women in Iranian society.
Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned multiple times for her activism and is currently on a medical furlough, appeared in a video conversation with Atwood, facilitated by TIME magazine on December 18.
In the interview, the Iranian activist turned the spotlight on what she described as gender apartheid in Iran and the restriction of women’s autonomy in ways eerily similar to Atwood’s dystopian Gilead.
Margaret Atwood is a renowned Canadian author, poet, and essayist, celebrated for her profound contributions to contemporary literature. Born on November 18, 1939, in Ottawa, Canada, she is best known for her speculative fiction, including The Handmaid's Tale and its sequel, The Testaments.
Her works often explore themes of power, gender, environmentalism, and the complexities of human relationships, blending literary brilliance with sharp social commentary. Atwood's innovative storytelling and unique perspective have earned her numerous awards, including the Booker Prize, which she has won twice.
“The handmaid’s tale is quite familiar to the people of Iran,” Mohammadi said during a rare three-week medical leave from prison.
Mohammadi recounted how she began reading the novel in Evin Prison but was unable to finish it due to restrictions.
She noted how its themes and imagery have resonated deeply with Iranians, especially during the protests sparked by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.
“Many young Iranians have been watching the Handmaid’s Tale series, and I have also heard that many performances during Iranian protests abroad have incorporated imagery and symbols from the series in solidarity,” Mohammadi said.
Atwood, speaking from New York, expressed her admiration for the courage of Iranian women in the face of systemic repression.
“I was looking at the Woman, Life, Freedom movement when it was at its height. It was remarkable, and I was amazed that they were getting away with it with all that total repression,” she said.
The Iranian activist also reflected on the broader societal changes driven by the movement, highlighting its transformative impact on Iranian culture.
“I see this change as a positive one specifically regarding the issue of forced hijab,” she said. “The change brought about by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iranian society is remarkable. If we had tried to achieve this through traditional methods, such as religious, political, sociological, or women’s rights discussions, it might have taken far longer to reach this level of progress.”
Mohammadi, a journalist and campaigner against the death penalty, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering efforts in promoting women’s rights and her relentless fight against oppression in Iran.
As a prominent voice for freedom, Mohammadi has been a leading figure in advocating for the rights of political prisoners and challenging the Iranian government's systemic injustices, including its crackdowns on protests.
Despite enduring multiple arrests, imprisonment, and harassment, her resilience and dedication have inspired millions worldwide. The Nobel Committee recognized her courage and significant role in empowering women in Iran, particularly during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which gained momentum following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 in police custody for not having proper hijab.
Use of medication to torture inmates
During the Dec. 18 conversation, Mohammadi also shared details about the inhumane treatment of women in Iranian prisons.
“One of the methods used against these women is transferring them to psychiatric hospitals,” she said. “They are given heavy medications intended for those with severe mental illness and injected with powerful drugs and even subjected to electric shocks.”
Atwood connected these accounts to historical practices under authoritarian systems. “This is very Soviet Union. This hospitalization and medication—they used to do that,” she said. “Who knows, they probably still are. And this kind of treatment was not confined to Iran.”
Mohammadi then emphasized the far-reaching consequences of controlling women in society. “When women lose control over fundamental aspects of their lives, such as their clothing, bodies, and choices through anti-women laws, it paves the way for oppressive regimes to take hold,” she said.
Atwood echoed this concern, observing how such dynamics are not confined to one country. “When I wrote it, I thought perhaps this book will become obsolete,” she said. “But the opposite has happened... This kind of total control of women, particularly their reproduction, that is already happening.”
Both women expressed hope that these stories of oppression will eventually become irrelevant. “The Handmaid’s Tale is an eternal work,” Mohammadi said.
“It continues to offer new insights and warnings in different eras.” Atwood said, “If it remains relevant, then it’s because the situation remains unequal and oppressive to women.”
Source: iranintl.com
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412246022
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Arîfe Bekir Of The Syrian Women's Council: Women Must Shape The Future Of The New Syria
26 December 2024,
Since the fall of the Syrian regime on 8 December, concerns about a deterioration in women's rights have increased. The Al-Qaeda offshoot HTS has taken power and, despite moderate words, has already implemented a number of misogynistic measures, such as expelling women from the judiciary. In an interview with ANF, ArîfeBekir, a member of the board of the Syrian Women's Council, spoke about developments in the country from a woman's perspective.
ArîfeBekir said that the conditions for women under the Baathist regime were extremely poor, contrary to what the regime reported, and added: "Although women's rights were formally anchored in the Syrian constitution, this had no consequences in practice. Women had no right to make their own decisions; their will was usurped. Although some women were able to hold important positions, this also took place in the shadow of the patriarchal mentality.”
The regime tortured active women and made them disappear
Bekir added: "The (Syrian) Women's Union was unable to be effective because it worked on the basis of the ideology of the Baath regime. The Syrian Women's Council applied to join this union, but were not accepted. In addition, many women were imprisoned by the regime and women who fought for their freedom were tortured. The fate of some women is still unknown. The aim was to break women's free will. Every single woman was deprived of her rights and forced to live within narrow limits."
2011 brought light and shadow for women
Especially after the uprisings in 2011, the situation of women changed in two ways. According to Bekir: "We can actually look at 2011 in two ways. On the one hand, the spread of the spark of the Rojava Revolution and the determined resistance of women are worth highlighting. With the revolutionary achievements of this period, women gained a say in all areas of life. Women were leading a revolution.
On the other hand, thousands of women were killed in clashes between the groups calling themselves the opposition and the Baath regime. There are many Syrian women whose fate is still unknown. In this war, the homes of thousands of women were destroyed, and women were displaced, killed and raped. The year 2011 and the period afterward was an extremely difficult time for women."
Practices in the occupied territories surpass the cruelty of the Baath regime
Bekir underlined that "women suffered heavily in the conflict between the interests of the mercenary groups and the Baath regime. These were groups that ostensibly set out to make a change in 2011, but occupied places like Afrin, GirêSpî, Serêkaniyê, al-Bab and Azaz. And they did not stop there, they continued to murder women, fill their prisons with women. We can say that every day in the occupied territories at least one woman is either murdered or raped. Young boys were forcibly recruited and forced to fight. Underage women were forced to marry. These groups supported polygamy. In fact, the practices of the groups that presented themselves as 'opposition forces' in the territories they occupied have surpassed the Baath regime in cruelty."
Our goal is the unity of women
On 8 September 2017, the Syrian Women's Council was founded. The aim was to unite all women in the country. Bekir explained the organization's intentions: "The Syrian Women's Council was founded with the aim of bringing women together across Syria, reaching out to all women in the country and promoting dialogue. The aim of this council is to create solidarity and unity by addressing the common problems of women. Women from different regions of Syria have the opportunity to support each other and build solidarity networks by sharing their experiences. As women from Syria, our priority is to guarantee women's freedom. In this context, we are actively fighting to defend women's social, economic and political rights. The protection, recognition and preservation of women's own identity are our priority.
Our goals include building a democratic and ecological society based on women's liberation and ensuring a solution to the crisis in Syria through democratic dialogue and decentralized systems. Our priorities include bringing freedom, democracy and justice to all ethnic, cultural and social identities, organizing and educating women and developing a free and equal understanding of life. By supporting the role of women in the new constitution and the dialogue process in Syria, we want to ensure women's rights in all areas. In this context, the implementation of international law, in particular Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, is of the utmost importance."
The resolution is about the position of women in conflicts. Among other things, it aims to guarantee the participation of women at all levels in peace processes, both in the negotiation and in the implementation of peace agreements. In addition, the resolution emphasizes the special need for protection of women and girls in armed conflicts. This particularly concerns protection against sexual and gender-based violence.
Women should write their own constitution
Bekir said that the time had come for the freedom of Syria's women and continued: "We are in a critical and extremely sensitive phase. This is the time of freedom and women. At such a time, all women must unite. All women must come together without distinction. Without the unity of women, without women standing shoulder to shoulder, there can be no freedom.
The main goal of the Syrian Women's Council is to empower women to assert their rights and free themselves from slavery. The future of the new Syria is extremely important for women. We support the construction of a new democratic, equal, just, peaceful and decentralized Syria, a country that guarantees women's rights. There will be a new constitution of Syria, and it is important that women's rights are enshrined in it. A constitution that is created on the basis of a patriarchal mentality will certainly not take women's rights into account. Therefore, women should write their constitution with their own hands."
Source: anfenglish.com
https://anfenglish.com/women/arife-bekir-women-must-shape-the-future-of-the-new-syria-77093
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Female Administrators stress role of women in building new Syria
26 December 2024
Prominent women from Raqqa commented on the political and military developments in Syria following the fall of the Baath regime led by Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024.
Speaking to ANHA agency, they highlighted the importance of women’s involvement in rebuilding the country and drafting its constitution.
Siham Al-Muhsin, the administrator at the Euphrates Academy in Raqqa, said:
" We need to consolidate our ranks and create a diverse societal system that includes all its religious, ethnic, and sectarian components."
"We need to come together as Syrians . This requires us to extend a hand to one another and seek solutions worthy of the sacrifices made by this people," al-Muhsin added.
Al-Muhsin also referenced the experience of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, highlighting how women organized under its framework and demonstrated their willpower to the entire world.
She made the point clear that all Syrians—especially women—would actively participate in drafting a democratic constitution that safeguards the rights of all components, religions, sects, and genders.
Raghda Murad, the member of the Women’s Committee in the Education Authority in Raqqa, pointed to the suffering Syrian women have endured over 13 years of crisis. She noted that despite these hardships, Syrian women have made tremendous sacrifices, making them deserving of a leading role in building a democratic Syria.
Zahra Sheikh, the member of the Women’s Committee in the Education Authority in Raqqa, emphasized the need for women to play a significant role in the next phase.
Zahra called on all Syrian women to stand united and work hand-in-hand to rebuild Syria. She stressed the critical importance of women’s active participation in this decisive phase.
Source: hawarnews.com
https://hawarnews.com/en/female-administrators-stress-role-of-women-in-building-new-syria
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Last door closes on women’s education in Afghanistan
By Lyndsey Koh
December 26, 2024
Afghanistan (MNN) — The Taliban in Afghanistan recently came out with another harsh restriction. Afghan women are now banned from education in nursing and midwifery – the last open door for women’s education in the country. Many women who were already in these educational programs suddenly found themselves turned away by their institutions.
This latest ban is due to the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia law, pushing women further into the shadows of Afghan society.
Nehemiah with FMI says, “For many Afghan women, nursing and midwifery have historically offered great opportunities for professional development and community service. Training women in this field is not only practical, but essential for ensuring access to healthcare for Afghan women and children.
“The suspension of education in these critical areas further undermines the country’s ability to address its healthcare challenges, putting countless lives at risk.”
The United Nations Population Fund released a report in August revealing that Afghanistan already lacks 18,000 midwives to meet national healthcare needs. This gap in numbers would only grow with women removed from the educational pool.
“The shortage is aggravated by the nation’s alarming, high maternal mortality rate – one of the worst globally,” Nehemiah points out.
“In 2023 last year, the World Health Organization reported 620 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This is a strange and very sad statistic reflecting the urgent need for skilled [nursing and midwivery] care.”
Ask God to comfort Afghan women and restore their freedoms.
Also, Nehemiah asks, “Pray for the Taliban, that God will soften their hearts and open their eyes to the harm caused by this action. May they come to repentance and recognize that only Jehovah God is the God who cares for everyone.”
Source: mnnonline.org
https://www.mnnonline.org/news/last-door-closes-on-womens-education-in-afghanistan/
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Female literacy rate up 2.5 times after Islamic Revolution
December 25, 2024
“In the past 45 years, 11 million women, including 800,000 female prisoners, have become literate,” ISNA quoted AbdolrezaFooladvand as saying.
Highlighting the significance of literacy for the development of the country, Fooladvand said since the Iranian year 1355 (March 1976-1977), the literacy rate has grown from 47.5 percent to 97 percent in the present time, which has been significant both nationally and globally.
The official went on to say that literacy is not just reading and writing; it refers to skills that enable individuals to solve their problems effectively and make positive changes in themselves in different situations.
Referring to the revision of the statute of the Literacy Movement Organization in the seventh national development program (2023-2027), Fooladvand said according to the revised edition, besides eradicating illiteracy, the Literacy Movement Organization is obliged to promote public literacy, lifelong and continuous learning, and respond to the individual and social needs of the society.
Beyond its conventional definition, literacy should involve new concepts as well as the real needs of the society. Therefore, the Literacy Movement Organization is planning to adapt education to individual and social needs, the official noted.
Once implemented, the program will play a key role in fostering public literacy and achieving sustainable development goals, Fooladvand stressed.
***Increase in number of literate, educated women
The improvement of women’s status in society and their presence in various fields, especially in the scientific and academic fields, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, is undeniable.
Education of women is the best way to develop their health, growth and improve their cultural-economic status. Education, especially university education, is one of the important factors for the development of any country and every person has a right to be educated. Women as a part of society are not exempted from this right.
With the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the Islamic Revolution in February 1979 [by the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979)], a series of fundamental changes and developments emerged throughout the country’s social system, including the education of women.
According to Article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, all human beings regardless of gender are equal in human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
Moreover, Article 21 specifically highlights the need to protect women’s rights by proclaiming that everyone should respect women’s rights. It states that the protection of these rights is one of the responsibilities of the administration and the governmental organizations of the country.
In addition to the fundamental policies and documents regarding women’s education in Iran, the high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic have always stressed in their speeches the necessity to provide the infrastructures and opportunities for the development of women in their individual and social lives.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in one of his speeches about women’s status said, “Women play a role in social, political, scientific, and economic activities. From the viewpoint of Islam, the field of women’s scientific, economic, and political activities is completely open. If someone tries to deprive women of doing scientific work and economic, political, and social endeavors on the basis of some supposedly Islamic viewpoint, they have acted against the divine decree. Women can participate in different activities as much as their physical ability and needs allow. They can engage in economic, political, and social activities as much as they can. The holy Islamic law is not against this. Of course, because women are more delicate in terms of physical strength, they have certain restrictions.” (September 18, 1996)
The promotion of women’s literacy is undoubtedly one of the most significant achievements after the Islamic Revolution.
According to the religious-political leaders, it is believed that a woman in Iran can be both traditional and modern at the same time; this is instilled in the education they receive. Meaning that a woman’s central role is in the home, taking care of children, their family, and house duties, while also being able to go out into the social world and create a public life not deteriorating any social standing of her family.
“In my opinion, the main issue – or let us say, one of the main issues – is the issue of home and family. The basis of the issue is women’s security and opportunities in the family environment and their home-making is for cultivating their talents. Nothing should prevent them from studying, reading, learning, and writing. Of course, this is related to those women who are interested in such things. The ground should be prepared for them to carry out these tasks,” the Leader said. (April 19, 2014)
The special attention to women, specifically regarding their scientific and academic life, has led to tangible, noteworthy changes in the growth of their individual, social, and scientific lives in Iran after the Islamic Revolution.
During these years, women have found the opportunity to exponentially grow in all levels of higher education whereas such opportunities were absent in the Pahlavi regime. Basically, the monarchical system in Iran adopted a shallow outlook toward women and looked at them as commodities in society.
In the post-Islamic Revolution, the ground was provided for more girls to enter universities and study at higher education centers.
In addition to increased access to academic and scientific environments, women’s situation significantly improved in terms of the diversity of the academic fields available to them. Women have achieved relative equality with men in different fields of study and have even overtaken them in certain fields.
Today, universities in Iran are flooded with women. The country’s literacy rate for women is among the best in the world. Almost 60 percent of all university students are females today. The percentage of women in higher education has increased nearly 21 times since the Islamic Revolution.
Source: tehrantimes.com
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/507913/Female-literacy-rate-up-2-5-times-after-Islamic-Revolution
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/iranian-women-nobel-laureate-narges/d/134144