Dali Jeryan speaks in Finglas

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday March 12, 2008 11:04 by John - Hands Off the People of Iran - HOPI

Iranian struggle highlighted on International Womens Day

Dali Jeyran a poliitical activist in Iran was invited by Parents Alone Support Service to speak at a series of meetings in Finglas on the 6th of March about the current situation in Iran and, particularly, the plight of women in Iran struggling against the regime. The meetings were organised by PASS as our celebration of International Womens’ Day.

The meetings took place in; St Heleana’s House, Project West and Rosehill House and over 100 local people attended them. The meetings were chaired by Bernie Hughes, the PASS Development Worker and the meeting agenda started with an introduction from Bernie followed by an Introductory talk by Dali followed by a questions and answers session.

In her introduction Bernie stated, “It’s worth mentioning that 60 or 70 years ago the situation in Ireland was equally oppressive to women and that there is still an ongoing battle here for equality. Women in Ireland only got the right to vote in 1922 and this wasn't given without a fight, Hannah Sheey Skeffington and other feminists were imprisoned during that struggle. In the 1960's and 70's women risked jail to highlight the lack of contraception in the Irish Republic. Many brave women have fought and continue to fight for women's issues”.

“I also think it is worthwhile to speak a little about International Womens Day itself, because the history of IWD is a history of women taking action. It was inspired by a mass meeting for the right to vote for women called in New York City in 1908. Socialist Clara Zetkin, an extraordinary feminist who spent her lifetime committed to the advancement of women, proposed at an International Conference of Socialist Women in 1910 the idea of an International Women's Day”.

“Our speaker today DALI JEYRAN is one example of the courage and determination of all women who struggle in Iran. She is a women's and political rights activist recently arrived from Iran. She has been involved in the struggles against the government there. She has been involved in solidarity work with trade unionists and students and also campaigned for prisoner's rights. She has been at the forefront of providing information about what is happening in Iran out to activists abroad. She is also opposed to any war or sanctions on Iran”

Dali opened her speech thanking the Staff and Management of Finglas South CDP, St Helena's Family Resource Centre and the Finglas Cabra Partnership for their invitation and support for this event. Dali is a member of Hands Off the People of Iran (HOPI). Her speech was entitled “A look at the lives of Iranian people”is reprinted here in full;

"The leaders of the religious Islamic state in Iran constantly bring misery to ordinary people with their anti human activities. 29 years ago this regime used the issue of forced veil allegedly for combating the defenders of the Shah's regime however so many years later it is still using this issue to control and suppress women,

The capitalist regime of Iran has also designed new plans against the Iranian people . The new version of its Islamic legislation, its law regarding 'society's security' present major threats to ordinary citizens.

Sexual apartheid in the education system , sexual discrimination portrayed in books, discrimination regarding university entrance ...all damage women, not to mention the neo liberal economic policies of the Iranian regime and the threat of war that have engulfed our region.

All these create lack of physical and mental security for all Iranians and women in particular. The Islamic revolution has brought nothing but poverty, unemployment, prostitution, mental illness, the incapability of families to earn basic wages as well as dual repression for women in the form of sexual discrimination especially for women workers, who face double exploitation.

The anti women legislation of the Islamic regime and its Sharia punishments against women has no limit. They use anti human legislation as if human rights had no value in this part of the world. In my country none of such rights exist, Workers, students are expelled, arrested , men and women loose their lives fighting for basic equality and freedom.

After the Islamic revolution poverty, prostitution, suicide (especially women burning themselves to death) has grown. I want to draw your attention to some of these issues. the starting age for prostitution is 13 on the other hand the regime knows it must create such terrible conditions to lengthen its rule.

But the women's movement , although facing many psychological and physical pressures is continuing its resistance and the women's independent movement has achieved some really good results. Many of these activities are by independent groups who have stayed clear of bourgeois attempts to divert their struggles. Groups are formed on the basis of the locality , given a specific area or region

# They are rank and file groups acting from below
# They try and avoid right wing influences
# They try and reduce danger to activists lives
# They work for recognition of specific conditions and social dynamics of their area of activity
# They attempt to encourage solidarity with the workers, women and students movements.

March the 8th is not just for commemorating this day, it is the day to analyse past activities and plan specific future ones. In Iran the state tries to suppress such gatherings. but they do take place even if at times women are forced to hold them in smaller groups.

The women's movement in Iran continues its fight even though it faces many obstacles despite increased poverty, prostitution, more than half of Iran's students are women and they are determined to change the situation. Today we need to revise how we fight the capitalist/religious state , hoping for the day we will win socialism."

If you would like to become involved in the Hands Off the People of Iran (HOPI) campaign you can contact them at; HOPI c/o Barracka Books, 61 Barrack Street, Cork