Misogynist Ideology: Iran Women Banned From Riding Motorcycles
New Age Islam News Bureau
28 February 2022
• Pakistan: Aurat March to Focus on Wages, Security,
Peace for Women
• Arab Gulf States Stress Women's Rights during Aid
Talks with Taliban
• Pakistani Women’s Contribution for Country’s
Development Must Be Acknowledged At All Levels
• Iranian Ambassador to UK Removed From Post over
Hijab Incident
• New Bill May Deter Acts of Domestic Violence,
Femicide in Turkey
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/misogynist-ideology-iran-women/d/126478
--------
Misogynist Ideology: Iran Women Banned From Riding
Motorcycles
Iran bans women from
riding motorcycles. Photo Credit: Eurasia Diary
-----
February 28, 2022
The regime of the ayatollahs is known for its
misogynist ideology, policies and laws against Iranian women. It did not take
long after the first few days of the revolution for the regime to start
systematically violating women’s rights. The first round of such policies was
the obligatory hijab for women.
To ensure that women obey the obligatory hijab and the
laws of the theocratic government, the regime mobilized several groups of
repressive forces to the streets, set up units in schools, universities, and
government and private offices tasked with controlling women and girls, and by
granting special privileges to men, forced women to obey the laws that stifled
their basic rights.
Throughout the past forty-three years, the Iranian
regime has worked tirelessly to expand misogynist laws in a variety of forms,
spreading a culture of “zeal” and supremacy among men. It has allocated large
amounts of funds and resources to control Iranian women and violate their
rights. The regime’s anti-women policies have stifled women, both socially and
economically. The common denominator of these barbaric policies against women
is an attempt to force them to believe that they are not equal to their male
counterparts, are less important, and as a result, should expect less and
settle for an inferior role in society.
During the years of the mullahs’ misogynistic
dictatorship, women’s sports and outdoor activities have always been subject to
numerous limitations and obstacles. By politicizing women’s sports and turning
it into a national security issue, the mullahs continue to deprive women of
these healthy social possibilities. The regime has gone so far as to make
riding pillion on a motorcycle illegal for women according to a report by the
state-run Asr-e Iran website on June 14, 2020.
The banning of Iranian women from riding motorcycles
has made headlines recently. On Sunday, February 15, Hossein Rahimi, the police
commander of Greater Tehran, while explaining the police’s plan to deal with
motorcyclists, reiterated that since women are not given motorcycle licenses,
they are not allowed to ride one.
This is while during the recent presidential elections
campaign, the campaign headquarters of current president Ibrahim Raisi
published photos of women riding motorcycles brandishing pictures of Raisi to
garner support for him.
In the regime’s judicial laws, there is no law
prohibiting women from cycling. However, religious scholars in the religious
dictatorship enforce this ban every year and routinely prevent women from using
bicycles in urban public spaces. The last example is from 2021. The Prosecutor
of Torghabeh and Shandiz in northeastern Iran announced that “In accordance
with the decree of the Headquarters to Promote Virtue and Prohibit Vice, and
according to the fatwa of some religious leaders who forbid women’s bicycling
in public, women cyclists have been banned in the city. The head of the Cycling
Board of Khorasan Razavi in northeastern Iran also announced the ban on women’s
cycling in public spaces in the province, indicating that the Headquarters to
Promote Virtue and Prohibit Vice was responsible for this decision.
In Iran, there is no gender requirement to obtain a
driving license for automobiles, buses and trucks, but there is one for
motorcycles. This means that a woman can drive a heavy truck but is not allowed
to ride a motorcycle. Because according to clerics, women’s bodies, despite
being covered from head to toe, will be exposed or the sight of a woman riding
a bike or motorcycle will entice men.
For more than four decades, the mullahs propaganda
machine and the network of its Friday prayer leaders, all representatives of
the regime’s Supreme Leader, have wasted no time in demonizing Iranian women to
find ways to limit their rights and capabilities. In the regime of ayatollahs,
women do not have the right to ride a horse, women do not have the right to
ride a bicycle, women do not have the right to ride a motorcycle, women do not
have the right to file for divorce or receive the custody of their children in
case of a divorce, women do not have the right to become judges or presidents,
and women are not allowed to choose certain fields of university studies, to
name just a few.
Iranian women, for the past forty-three years, have
begun a vigorous struggle against the forced veil, which has spread across the
borders of the world. Their role in everyday protests by teachers, workers,
pensioners, and in nationwide protests such as the last one in November 2019 is
very prominent. Because despite decades of suppression, the regime has never
been able to force Iranian women to submit to its theocracy.
Source: Eurasia Review
https://www.eurasiareview.com/28022022-iran-women-banned-from-riding-motorcycles/
--------
Pakistan: Aurat March To Focus On Wages, Security,
Peace For Women
26 February, 2022
Islamabad [Pakistan], February 26 (ANI): Pakistan’s
Aurat March, scheduled to be held on International Women’s Day on March 8, will
focus on wages, security and peace for women, local media reported.
The slogan for this year’s Aurat March on
International Women’s Day is Ujrat, Tahaffuz Aur Sukoon, said social worker
Sheema Kermani at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on
Thursday. She said this year, it will be the fifth Aurat March, Dawn newspaper
reported.
After her speech, an organiser of the march put
forward the three central demands saying that the march is dedicated to the
labour and hard work of women and khawajasira.
The three demands include that “all workers, whether
they’re working in factories, on farms and homesteads, in homes as domestic
workers or as sanitation workers be given a living wage based on access to safe
housing, quality education and affordable healthcare for themselves and their
families. As a first step immediate reinforcement of the minimum wage across
all sectors, and for all actors who refuse this to be fined under the law,” the
Pakistani newspaper reported.
“The provision of social security and protection
through monthly stipends for all women and khawajasira community in view of the
care labour they perform and economic violence they are subjected to,” Dawn
newspaper reported.
“The state prioritise the welfare of the child by
putting an end to child labour, trafficking for work, and bonded labour. The
government should provide childcare and protection centres and child support
services in every district of Karachi and in the rest of Sindh,” the Pakistani
newspaper reported. (ANI)
Source: The Print
https://theprint.in/world/pakistan-aurat-march-to-focus-on-wages-security-peace-for-women/848556/
--------
Arab Gulf states stress women's rights during aid
talks with Taliban
15/02/2022
DOHA-
Arab Gulf envoys stressed Monday that women must be
able to work and go to school, in talks with the Taliban foreign minister as
Afghanistan's hardline Islamic rulers made a new bid to unblock foreign aid.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister and a key
member of the Taliban leadership which took over Kabul six months ago, met
ambassadors from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Doha on the
first full day of his latest mission, where he is also to hold talks with
European envoys.
The Taliban have been struggling to unfreeze billions
of dollars of assets abroad and get sanctions lifted as they face pressure over
their treatment of women and supporters of the Western-backed government
toppled last year.
The Taliban Tweeted pictures of the smiling foreign
minister entering Monday's meeting with representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But diplomats said no
promises were made by Afghan officials inside.
Arab envoys emphasised the need to help Afghanistan's
"urgent humanitarian needs" as the country confronts widespread
hunger caused by drought as well as an economic crisis that has driven up
chronic unemployment, said a GCC statement.
While highlighting that there should be
"non-interference" in Afghanistan's affairs, they
"stressed" the importance of a national reconciliation plan that
"takes into consideration the interests of all components of society and
respects basic freedoms and rights, including women's right to work and
education".
The ambassadors also raised fears that "terrorist
groups may be able to launch attacks from Afghanistan's territory against other
countries".
They insisted that the country must not be exploited
to fuel the illegal drugs trade.
Muttaqi, who is to hold a key meeting with European
nations and other international representatives on Wednesday, made no comment
after the meeting.
No country has yet recognised the Taliban government
and the latest talks came only days after President Joe Biden said that $7
billion held in US banks would be split between a fund to aid Afghanistan and
to compensate victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
European governments and international finance
institutions are also holding back billions in aid.
Source: The Arab Weekly
https://thearabweekly.com/arab-gulf-states-stress-womens-rights-during-aid-talks-taliban
--------
Pakistani women’s contribution for country’s
development must be acknowledged at all levels
28 Feb 2022
LAHORE, Feb 28 (APP):Samina Alvi, wife of President Dr
Arif Alvi has said that Pakistani women’s valuable role and contribution for
the development of the country must be acknowledged at all levels.
She said this while addressing a ceremony held here on
Monday to commend the contribution of some prominent women belonging to various
fields of life. The programme was organized by Unique Group of Institutions
(UGI).
Samina Alvi said, “Since the creation of Pakistan our
women have proved their mettle in different fields of life.”
She added that unfortunately Pakistani women face
difficulties in getting their rights, adding that our religion Islam has
strongly advocated giving due rights to women in the society.
First Lady said that incumbent government has given
special attention to women rights and has taken solid measures and steps to
protect women and address their problems. She appreciated the “dedicated
efforts” being made to ensure rights of inheritance of women.
Referring to social issues faced by women she said
that besides legislation, the male segment of society should realize their
responsibility to weed out the menace of harassment of women .
In this context she stressed the need for
socio-economic empowerment of women and added that their self reliance and
confidence play important role in the upbringing of new generations.
Samina Alvi called upon the women to continue their
hard work and struggle in order to grow and prosper in life while giving due
time and attention to their families also.
She urged young students present on the occasion to
excel in various fields of life,earn good name for themselves and their
families while upholding precious human values.
Referring to the high incidence of breast cancer she
said concerted efforts were required to create optimum awareness on the matter
so as to prevent the disease as much as possible.
First Lady on the occasion sought attention to the
needs of special persons, saying that differently-abled
people should not be neglected ,rather given maximum
facilities and opportunities.
Samina Alvi said that President Dr Arif Alvi and she,
herself ,were making efforts to start “inclusive education” in government
schools.
She also said that efforts were being made to include
facilities for special persons and senior citizens
in the plans for new buildings infrastructure.
“There is a dire need to sustain our art,
crafts,culture and maintain heritage, besides promoting the artisans”, she
concluded.
Earlier, the First Lady awarded commemorative shields
to Justice (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Iqbal Academy Director Dr Baseera Ambreen,
PILAC Director General Dr Sughra Sadaf, Power Lifter Neelum Riaz, Rowing
Athlete Nighat Kausar, some female parliamentarians and teachers.
Later, UGI Chairman Abdul Mannan Khurram presented a
souvenir to the First Lady.
Source: APP
--------
Iranian ambassador to UK removed from post over hijab
incident
Patrick Wintour
27 Feb 2022
The Iranian ambassador to the UK has been ordered back
to Tehran and is to be removed from his post after a video circulated showing
an embassy reception at which some women did not have their heads covered.
News of Mohsen Baharvand’s return to Tehran was
reported by the ILNA news agency in Iran.
At the event commemorating the 43rd Iranian
Revolution, a woman playing a piano alongside a violinist was not wearing a
hijab. Another video of the event showed a more conventional gathering at which
speeches were given.
An Iranian in London tweeted a video of the event, attended
largely by diplomats, asking whether the party would “with the presence of
these people have the slightest benefit for the Iranian people?”. He later
tweeted: “It is gratifying that our voice was heard in Iran. Please send an
ambassador to London who is pragmatic and worthy of serving Iran and working
only for the benefit of the Iranian people.”
The news circulated first in pro-regime newspapers,
and some claimed it was part of a wider reorganisation of the Iranian
diplomatic service being carried out by the new more hardline government led by
Ebrahim Raisi, elected last June.
Baharvand was appointed by the foreign ministry before
the presidential elections, but took up his London posting in July after the
change in leadership of the department. He was previously the deputy head of
the legal department in Iran under Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former foreign
minister.
In his dealings with reporters in the UK, the
ambassador did not stray from the official government position on the Iran
nuclear talks, but tried to explain the context of Iranian thinking.
His departure comes at a critical time in
British-Iranian relations. Iran is on the cusp of deciding whether to accept
Washington’s terms for a US return to the Iran nuclear deal, including the
lifting of many sanctions. Alongside the nuclear talks, Britain is seeking to
secure the release of three British-Iranian dual nationals detained in Iran.
The Islamic Consultative Assembly, Iran’s parliament,
met in private session on Sunday to review the state of the talks that many say
could finally reach a conclusion this week. Ali Bagheri, the Iranian chief
negotiator, is due to return on Sunday to Vienna, where the Iran talks are
taking place, with fresh final instructions. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s foreign
minister, is to meet Iran’s supreme national security council on Monday, and
there is talk of a special session of Iran’s parliament on Tuesday.
The foreign minister said the talks were continuing,
stressing nothing was agreed until everything was agreed. Issues remain around
assurances on the US’s long-term commitment to the deal, and the extent of
sanction suspension.
Both sides seem to be trying to prevent the fallout
from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to spill into the critical last days of the
Vienna talks.
Russia has, as a signatory to the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action – the technical term for the 2015 deal – acted as a key mediator
in the months-long talks in Vienna between European powers, the US and Iran.
The Russian ambassador in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has been a passionate
defender of the invasion.
Opponents of the deal, not necessarily party to the
negotiations, fear an agreement will give Iran leeway to become a nuclear power
relatively quickly and argue that the west’s experience with Russia shows that
appeasement of fundamentally hostile powers does not work, and only emboldens
them.
Some Iranian political scientists have urged Iran not
to be too outspoken in its support of Russia, fearing it will make it more
difficult for the Biden administration to win political support for the deal.
But Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s supreme national security council,
said the war was the direct responsibility of the west’s drive to threaten the
security of other countries.
Amir-Abdollahian has also criticised Nato provocations
without endorsing the violence. Iran takes the view that the era of cold war
blocs is over, and America is in long-term decline, but that it is important
for Iran to steer an independent course and not become a client of China.
Source: The Guardian
--------
New bill may deter acts of domestic violence, femicide
in Turkey
FEB 27, 2022
The government is working on a new draft bill that
aims to address domestic violence and femicides, two complex issues plaguing
women in Turkey. The bill, whose details will be made public by President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan on March 8 International Women’s Day, will focus on severe
sentences for perpetrators.
The Ministry of Justice is putting the final touches
on the bill before it is submitted to Parliament for approval. The bill will
particularly address the issue of "release with judiciary control," a
common verdict in most domestic violence cases and sometimes, even in homicides
targeting women. Such court verdicts often stir up public outrage while legal
experts say verdicts stem from a loose interpretation of existing laws.
Judiciary control, in different cases, may involve a ban on travel abroad and
in its harshest form, means house arrest. The new bill will increase prison
terms and end the practice of release with judiciary control in such cases.
Bekir Bozdağ, appointed as Justice Minister in
January, has signaled harsher sentences for perpetrators of domestic violence
and femicides. The minister recently held meetings with female lawmakers from
the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) to hear their opinions and suggestions on a new bill. The deputies
had called upon the ministry to take new steps, especially on the need for a
new legal definition for stalking, to revise the rules on "good
conduct" and interpretation of laws. Courts can issue more lenient
sentences in domestic violence cases based on "good" behavior of the
defendant throughout the trial and even based on the outfit they wore to the
hearings.
The draft bill will handle all legal aspects of crimes
targeting spouses and femicides and cover protection for victims as well as
punishment of perpetrators. No exception will be provided to defendants in
cases of violence against women, in terms of judiciary control, while prison
terms will be more severe. Under current laws, perpetrators in most homicide
cases can be eligible for parole after serving 24 years of their term, if they
are sentenced to life imprisonment. This period decreases further if they are
sentenced to any term below life imprisonment.
Source: Daily Sabah
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/misogynist-ideology-iran-women/d/126478