By Morteza Sadeqi
Source: Borås Tidning Sweden
Following is a translation of the text from Swedish
Iran is unique as the first country in which Islamic fundamentalists managed to attain power and institutionalize its medieval world. A monopolistic, brutal, dogmatic, disadvantage and terror political system that strives to preserve and expand Velay-e-fagih (absolute clerical supremacy).
Gender Segregation and discrimination against women is a fundamental social and legal component.
Iran's Misogyny State supports gender inequality with a series of laws that go so far as to legalize the rape and murder of women. Extensive arrests, torture, flogging and stoning of women occurs. In its November 2008 report, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon deep concern over "cases of stoning and public executions." The ruling clergy's "hatred of women" is partly based on fear.
Over 60 percent of Iran's 70 million inhabitants are under 30, nearly half are women. Moreover, 60 percent of university students are women. The lack of professional and social opportunities and increasing discrimination, has fueled dissent among women, posing a national threat to the "rulers". It should, of course be noted that the regime in Tehran has sadistic hostility toward women. Velay-e-faqi's rule is the opposite of Islam.
The principle of equality regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, is one of the pillars of the true Islamic faith. Women should participate equally in the political leadership.
In order to promote regional hegemony, the regime is going full speed ahead to develop nuclear weapons. The regime's survival depends on the continued oppression – especially against women – and the export of fundamentalism and terrorism. By ignoring these fundamental features of Iran's theocracy, the U.S. authorities in a way, tried to involve Iran in the hope of changing the regime's behavior.
No body, however, committed has been committed to the Iranian people, or more specifically, the Iranian women and their movement for change. Currently 3,500 members of the main Iranian opposition are living in Camp Ashraf in Iraq, where they have been recognized as "protected persons" under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Nearly 1,000 of them are women, many of them had for years been detained in Iranian prisons and torture.
The least expensive and most efficient way to bring about change in Iran is to rely on the strength of the Iranian people, its women and its organized opposition for democratic change. A new U.S. course by Barack Obama administration could turn around the whole thing.
The foundation for democracy in Iran will benefit from the lessons that history has offered us. Before the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill warned of appeasement toward Hitler's regime. But many, including the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, advocated conciliation with Germany. In the end, the agreement between Britain and Hitler, won him the crucial time to prepare, before he launched his attack against Europe.
When the international community increasingly recognizes that Iran's rulers are illegitimate, they must also recognize the legitimacy of the democratic opposition with the same gravity.
In combination with increased international diplomacy Mr. Obama has in mind toward Iran, he should consider Iranian women and their organized democratic opposition as a partner in the establishment of democracy in Iran and stability in the region.
