Women’s
Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ALERT
CONTACT: press@wfafi.org
June 12, 2006
Iranian Women Rally for Equality and Democracy
Women’s Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran declare its full support for the courageous women of Iran and applaud their call for change.
BOSTON, MA- In a few hours, Iranian women will gather in Seventh of Tir Square in Tehran at 5pm (local time) to protest against the fundamentalist regime ruling Iran.
Last year, on the same day, women gathered, without permit, to protest against the system of gender apartheid inIran. On June 12, 2005, women’s sit-in grew to a large street protest against the regime while the Iranian security forces and paramilitary policemen moved to beat, arrest and identify the protesters for future harassments and persecution. Women were able to draw a large crowd and take over several streets of Tehran and they plan to do the same in just a few hours.
Iranian women are demanding the most basic rights, yet their strategy is carefully outlined to politically, socially and ideologically challenge Ahmadinejad’s regime and Khameini’s supreme leadership. This year women are calling for:
- Banning polygamy;
- Reversal of men's uncontested right to divorce;
- Equal child custody rights for mothers and fathers;
- Equal rights in marriage (such as a woman's right to choose where she works, to travel freely, etc.);
- Increase in the legal age of children to 18 years of age (currently girls are viewed as adults at 9 years of age and boys at 15 years of age, making them eligible to be tried as adults);
- Equal value placed on women's testimony in court; and
- Elimination of temporary work contracts which disproportionately and negatively impact women.
Such political move and resolve are indications of the organized women’s movement in Iran. Although, the latest nuclear show down resulted in more shameful incentives from the West, in a few hours the Iranian women plan to remind the world community of the regime’s true misogynous and fundamentalist nature. The world community must recognize the call for change by women and stand in support of equality, freedom and peace in Iran.
Women’s Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran (WFAFI) calls upon the world community to move swiftly and decisively in isolating the regime in Tehran. No amount of incentives or negotiations will change the nature and the behavior of Ahmadinejad’s regime. Instead, women are urging the community of nations to hold his regime responsible for its state sponsorship of violence against women, illegal nuclear activities, international terrorism and spread of Islamic Fundamentalism in the region.
###
P.O. Box
15205
Boston, MA
02215
Tel: (617) 590-1665
Fax: (610) 862-9110