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Women’s Forum Against
Fundamentalism in
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2004
Public
Statement
Female students demand to be heard while
protesting against the fundamentalist regime in Iran Tehran’s University
Boston, MA
– Last week, hundreds of female students staged a protest in Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran. The students protested against the appalling
conditions of dormitories offered to female students. The female students
reported lack of basic necessities including drinkable water and safety
conditions. Women’s Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran (WFAFI) has received reports
indicating complaints of unhygienic meals and lack of telephone facilities
around the campus and surrounding streets in Tehran. According to one eye-witness, the fundamentalist
regime quickly dispatched its anti-riot police “to bring about an atmosphere of
fear and to arrest anyone who might dare to shout slogans against the regime
itself”.
Despite
systemic limitations, over the past several years, female students have
increasingly widened the academic superiority over their male counterparts. The
fundamentalist regime in Iran considers this a “dangerous imbalance”. In 2002,
female students secured 63% of university entrance. As the academic year began
at the end of September, the Iranian regime pursued an agenda of implementing
fear in particular for the female students. Such actions are not only classic
examples of the Iranian regime’s inherent misogynistic beliefs, but also an
ideological tool using fear to push women back into the homes and private
sphere.
With
an overwhelming amount of dissent that is widespread throughout Iran, it is clear that the fundamentalist regime in Iran is making an utmost attempt to stifle and strangle
any voice of opposition. With the female
population bearing the brunt of this burden of discrimination, it is no wonder
the regime targets them specifically.
Despite the dangers of being vocal and women in Iran, the regime fails to silence their cry for freedom
and equality as seen in the women’s organized protests. WFAFI calls upon the
freedom loving people of the world to speak out against such
violations and support women’s movement for equality, freedom and
democracy in Iran.
###
WFAFI
P.O.Box 15205, Boston, MA 02215
Tel: (617) 590-1665
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