8th March 2004 

A message to people in Iran

 

Women and men!

8th March, the International Women’s Day is approaching. This is the day when people show their protest and hatred against women’s suppression and violation of their rights. In Iran, we are getting nearer to this historical day at a time when the Islamic state is in crisis and takes its last breaths.

For more than 25 years we have seen how Islam and its anti women laws have given us nothing but poverty, lack of rights, insecurity and humiliation. The Islamic state came to power with the slogan “Observe the veil, or be flogged”. It has practiced its slogan by torture, floggings, execution and stonings. The Islamic state regards women’s position to be at home in the service of men. It tries to push back the society’s culture and morals tocenturies ago and turn women into men’s sex slaves.

However, despite all these attempts, the world knows that women in Iran never surrendered to Islamic values and way of life. They have stood firm and resisted such backward practices. The Islamic Republic of Iran has been defeated a long time ago. Even the pro regime elements in Iran and the opportunist governments of the West admit this fact.

An end to sexual apartheid and the Islamic veil is our slogan on this day. Wherever possible we have to organise our meetings, raising our voice against both factions of the Islamic government and demand separation of religion from the state. We have to say it out loud that women in Iran don’t have time for negotiating with the Mullahs or the so-called “liberal faction” of the regime. Time is up for any “Liberal Islam” or “different interpretation of Islam”.

We must show the world that the massive movement for overthrowing the Islamic regime in Iran is going to once and for all put an end to this medieval system. Women are in the forefront of this movement and do not accept the anti women laws which has made life a hell for millions.

On International Women’s Day, we say Islamic veil is a shame in the face of humanity, sexual apartheid and segregation and all Islamic laws are anti women and should be wiped out.