|
UK Parliament
|
|
|
Mullahs ruling Iran have nothing to do with Islam
|
|
EP Visit Video Report
|
|
|
Maryam Rajavi speaks to the European Parliament
At the European Parliament, Mrs. Rajavi, calls for abandoning appeasement, removal of terror tag on PMOI
|
|
|
|
Home  Speeches Fundamentalists pose greatest threat to women's rights
|
|
Monday, 28 February 2005 |
|
Page 1 of 3 
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends, sisters,
It is indeed a pleasure to be among you, experts, thinkers and activists of the equality movement.
Allow me to join you and send greetings to our sisters around the world
on International Women's Day; to all those striving for freedom and
equality; to all those who have rebelled against oppression and
exploitation; to Iranian women who have not tolerated a life of
humiliation under the yoke of misogynous despots and have risen to
fight; and to all pioneering women who are carrying the burden of this
resistance.
I am also quite happy to see you, my dear compatriots, at this
conference. The women of Iran, steadfast as they are against the most
brutal dictatorship in the world today, are a source of pride: those of
you who have come here for the ideal of equality, our young women in
universities, women in factories, in rural areas, and those at home.
These days, Iran is again in grief after the earthquake that struck
Zarand, Kerman. Poor housing and vulnerability of Iranians under
clerical rule again made losses caused by this natural disaster far
bigger. Women, especially child girls, are facing dual suffering. While
again expressing my solidarity with those affected, I emphasize the
need to make sure that aid reaches the people who need it.
The suffering of Iranian women, who are being humiliated and insulted
over trivial issues under the mullahs' rule, is indeed painful. The
discrimination and oppression against Iranian women is intolerable.
But Iranian women have kept the flame of hope alive in their hearts, because they are convinced that liberation is at hand.
I sense the passion for and belief in liberation among Iranian women
from the messages of my fellow women from inside Iran. The hardships of
Iran's women today will no doubt be turned in to happiness and liberty.
Our gathering today only days before March 8 is a valuable opportunity
to pursue this great ideal, as that day offers inspiration for the
realization of hopes and ideals of women around the world for equality
and liberation
I believe all of us here today, regardless of our specific beliefs,
share the view that in our turbulent world, the struggle for equality
would be effective and have resonance only when it is linked with the
political struggle and the pressing issues of the day. If we limit the
equality movement to women's issues as well as gender deprivations and
discrimination, and stay away from such a link, we would be confining
the equality movement within itself. This would not benefit the
equality movement. Because when we speak of equality, we mean the real
meaning of the word: equality in political activity and political
leadership and not only equality before the law.
The most urgent issue that has aroused concern across the world is
Islamic fundamentalism emanating from Iran. It is now spreading to
other Muslim countries, regional countries and especially Iraq,
seriously threatening peace, democracy, and the achievements of
humanity and the equality movement.
The abysmal plight of girls and women in Iran, where even 16-year-old
girls are hanged by the mullahs, and the bleak destiny fundamentalists
have imposed on women in Muslim countries cannot be ignored by the
worldwide equality movement.
How to confront fundamentalism relates to all peace and human rights
advocates, and specifically to activists in the equality movement. The
danger of Islamic fundamentalism is not unique to the Middle East and
Islamic countries only. The specter of fundamentalism is now on the
march throughout Europe.
What should be done with Islamic fundamentalism? In truth, the policy
toward Islamic fundamentalism across the world depends precisely on the
policy toward the Iranian regime as the heartland of exporting
fundamentalism.
In confronting this increasing danger, there is normally talk of two
options. The first is to compromise with the clerical regime with the
aim of containment and gradual change. In the past two decades, Western
governments have pursued this option.
The other option is to overthrow the mullahs by way of a foreign war,
similar to what happened in Iraq. No one would want to see the repeat
of that scenario in Iran.
The Tehran mullahs and those with stakes in the status quo want us to
believe that any serious change requires a foreign war, and the only
alternative to war is to make a deal with the mullahs. But the Iranian
Resistance believes that in place of "appeasement or war," there is a
third option, which represents the real path to change: change brought
about by the Iranian people and Resistance.
<< Start < Previous 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
|
|
|
|
Future of Iran: Oppression or Democracy |
A Report on a meeting organized by the Friends of a Free Iran on Iran and EU's policy on that country
December 15
Maryam Rajavi: Democracy for Iran
|
|
|
