OscailtDance on the Axis of Evil: Women Rights in IranPlease switch off the voice recorder. I will tell you about the arrest and interrogation. It’s not for my safety, but for yours. I am afraid that they will search you when you will be leaving the country.
A woman in her late 20-ies opens the door to the hotel Firouzeh in central Tehran. She is dressed in blue jeans and a purple hijab covering her faultless shape. Headscarf which is supposed to cover her hair is struggling to stay somewhere on the back of her head.
Delicate smile on her cheerful face is assisting a firm handshake. It’s Maryam, an activist of the One Million Signatures Demanding Changes to Discriminatory Laws towards women. “Marek jaan (dear), welcome to Iran!”
Breaking news: Italian MP, Sgarbi denounces the Statistical Fraud on COVID-19. The speech of the Member of Parliament Vittorio Sgarbi in the session of the Italian Camera, Meeting no. 331 of Friday 24, April, 2020. Vittorio Sgarbi, denounces the closure of 60% of the businesses for 25,000 COVID-19 Deaths, of which the National Institute of Health says 96.3% died NOT of COVID-19 but of other pathologies. That means only 925 have died of the virus. 24,075 have died of other things.2009-05-05T18:04:52+00:00Indymedia Irelandimc-ireland@lists.indymedia.iehttp://www.indymedia.ie/atomfullposts?story_id=92205http://www.indymedia.ie/graphics/feedlogo.gifCan you count?http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2512132009-05-05T18:04:52+00:00Bazooka JoeHow many women at the table with the man? Two? And what is the significance of a...How many women at the table with the man? Two? And what is the significance of a man sitting with 'two women'? Are we supposed to feel he is some sort of terrible polygamist because he is sitting with two women? You will think him worse when you recount..... one.....two...... three..... and find he has three wives! Oh no!<br />
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And the 'Womens only' carriage? What's up with that? I can understand if it was a 'Mens Only' carriage. Then we could really call those Iranian men oppressive beasts but this looks like some sort of luxury carriage from the polished glass. Have you ever gone to an ICA meeting Marek? It is part of a global Womens Only organisation. At least I have never heard of a man joining.<br />
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I would say this was a piece of thinly disguised racism from someone whose blog is very much on the right wing but it is not so thinly disguised. Don't worry though, no objections here. You're in good company when it comes to any old sort of rubbish that blackens Iran.<br />
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And is that really Tehran University and can you substantiate any of this story. Calling yourself a freelance journalist and having a blog does not give you carte blance to verify your own facts. But sure don't worry about it. Like I say you are taking the right stand on Iran and sure who cares if it is true or not. Why let the truth stand in the way of a good story.Repression in Iranhttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2512172009-05-05T21:57:23+00:00A FreemanSo 'Bazooka Joe' you reject all criticism of the rule of the mullahs and claim t...So 'Bazooka Joe' you reject all criticism of the rule of the mullahs and claim that women are lucky to be segregated into such nice steel and glass carriages on the tehran metro!, fantastic to see the views of someone who probably regards himself as a paragon of the left and a progressive etc. What about the recent treatment of Roxana Saberi the Iranian-American journalist sentenced to 8 years imprisonment at Evin prison?, (notorious for its torture rooms) following a closed trial in a virtual kangaroo court where she was allowed no effective defence to the charges (after all, she is a woman). The recent execution of an 18 year old girl in Iran was also a disgrace but isn't unusual in a country that regularly executes minors as young as 15. I'm sure this will be defended by the usual criteria of america=evil, israel=evil, iran=wonderful etcRightwing racist?http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2512382009-05-06T10:10:20+00:00Marek Lenarciklenarcik at gmail dot comHey Bazooka Joe,
Thank you for the interesting comment. I will address a couple...Hey Bazooka Joe,<br />
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Thank you for the interesting comment. I will address a couple of your concerns.<br />
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There are three women on the picture. Three wives? Three daughters? Three friends? You don’t know that and neither do I. But why is that important? If I suggested that he’s a polygamist, that was not my intention. We clearly don’t know that from this picture.<br />
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There are no ‘Mens Only’ carriages in Tehran Metro. Women carriages are designed for women who do not want to ride on the metro with the men they do not know. But they don’t have to do that if they don’t want to. <br />
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I have never been to an ICA meeting. But I have been to Iran and talked to the people.<br />
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If you think that my blog is right wing then you must be so left wing that you see right wing ideology everywhere. I recommend you as well to check the definition of ‘racism’ in the dictionary. I am not against Iran or Iranian people. I am showing how the government is treating the people. <br />
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It is a Terhan Univeristy – the main gate. The university was closed due to the celebrations of the Iranian New Year. We could not get any further than that. <br />
Thanks Marekhttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2513192009-05-07T13:23:22+00:00Bazooka JoeThanks for clarifying the picture Marek. I accept it is just a restaurant scene ...Thanks for clarifying the picture Marek. I accept it is just a restaurant scene and makes no comment on the man or women. Maybe just label it 'restaurant scene' then? And what a nice restaurant. Lucky people. Thanks also for clarifying that the 'womens only' carriage is for women who choose to use it. I think some women in the west might also choose a womens only carriage or area at times when travelling, if they had the choice. I am thinking particularly at times when drunks abound and the threat of rape is near. In light of your clarification Marek I would withdraw my comment about your piece being right wing. My apologies for falling into the left-right trap.<br />
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As for 'A Freeman', I never mentioned Mullahs and I certainly don't regard myself as "as a paragon of the left and a progressive etc". You go onto discuss another case that is not relevant to this story so we could discuss that again if the story if writte.Bombay trainshttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2513212009-05-07T14:19:18+00:00Punjab PatYears back I spent pleasant days in Bombay, now Mumbai. The fast electric trains...Years back I spent pleasant days in Bombay, now Mumbai. The fast electric trains taking people into work from Juhu Beach (where my hotel was) had special ladies-only carriages for women who wanted to feel hassle-free. Other carriages were mixed . Women could choose to use whichever areas they wanted to travel in. I'd say the ladies-only compartments were also a convenience during rush hours for women who didn't want to endure the crush of humanity elsewhere on the trains.<br />
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There have been human rights violations in Iran, against the minority Baha'is who are considered by muslim clerics to be followers of a prophet who was born centuries after Mohammed and therefore not a legitimate prophet. I get an impression of laws and rules of evidence that render women less equal before the law. Maybe improving educational opportunities will eventually result in changes of attitude. That happened in Ireland too, didn't it?Iranian women perspectivehttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2967552013-07-22T19:59:58+00:00nazaninAs an Iranian women I can tell you that majority of women in Iran love the separ...As an Iranian women I can tell you that majority of women in Iran love the separate space in the metro. We also have mix space where men and women can sit together. But during rush hour it gets really busy and some men act inappropriately so some women want to sit separately. I did this when I was in Iran. this was long time ago. I don't know how it is nowadays in Iran. But I don't think this issue is an issue with the government. Both Iranian and Islamic culture and laws demand respect for women. It's more individual men act very bad. So this lady should work to bring awareness to those men that it's not ok to act inappropriately. I agree that Shia laws are not really Sharia laws like what they have in Saudi Arabia or other Sunni countries it's so severe they don't even let women drive!!!Freedomhttp://www.indymedia.ie/article/92205#comment2973592013-10-11T09:51:57+00:00BouleI like to Ask ms. Mirza how much freedom there be given i-f one relate to a Man ...I like to Ask ms. Mirza how much freedom there be given i-f one relate to a Man Married and having a child even with his wife and continue relating behind the backs of t w o marriages?<br />
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From Teheran to Germany, from 1998 til ? Continuously living a concept 'A World that belong to us Alone'.<br />
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I have difficulties understand the concept 'Freedom' as you Live it. Freedom be when it suits one concepts be NOT Freedom for All