Maryam Rajavi calls for world condemnation of 'medieval' abuses of Iranian women

                      

NCRI - Iranian Resistance leader Maryam Rajavi has called on the world to support the struggle against the regime's barbaric treatment of women and suppression of its own people as it clings onto power.

She condemned the recent 'atrocious' acid attacks on women deemed to be improperly veiled carried out by gangs affiliated to the ruling mullahs in Tehran.

The attacks triggered nationwide protests demanding that the state-sanctioned culprits be brought to justice, she said.

Mrs Rajavi said in a message to a conference at the Italian parliament: "The groundwork for this heinous crime was laid some time ago with the ratification of a law by the mullahs' Parliament, the rhetoric of Khamenei himself, and the threats issued by the regime's suppressive gangs.

"Their objective was to instil fear and terror in society in a bid to intensify suppression and curb social protests.

"The religious dictatorship ruling Iran is a fundamentalist regime with inherent medieval characteristics, but one that has emerged in the 21st century. That is why in order to preserve its rule, before all else, it needs to continue suppression at home and export terrorism and fundamentalism beyond its frontiers."

And the sharpest edge of the regime's suppression is its hatred of women, Mrs Rajavi told Italian lawmakers.

She added: "Misogyny represents the core of fundamentalism and reactionary ideology.

"By instituting compulsory veiling, by humiliating and insulting women, by launching an extensive campaign to purge women from government positions, by prohibiting women from becoming judges, and by passing discriminatory laws, they have tried to push the Iranian women back as far as they possibly can.

"By suppressing and terrorizing women, they seek to bring the entire society under their control and force it into submission."

Mrs Rajavi named misogynist laws recently introduced including allowing men to marry their adopted daughters, quotas and gender segregation in universities and banning young women from studying 77 university degrees.

She said: "But Iranian women have refused to accept being purged. They refuse to be wiped off the annals of history, and they have not accepted the mullahs' desire of being forced to stay at home.

"On the contrary, Iranian women have become the flag bearers of resistance, inspiring perseverance, struggle and resistance among other sectors and classes in society.

"These brave women have led the struggle for the overthrow of the religious tyranny ruling Iran while enduring some of the most vicious attacks against Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty, such as 27 assaults in over eight years, including six massacres.

"And that is why supporting PMOI women at Camp Liberty, beyond its humanitarian dimensions, is to embrace the promise of triumph over the monster of fundamentalism, which threatens not only the fate of the Iranian people but also that of the peoples of the region.

"We seek a new order and are determined to fundamentally overturn the old and reactionary one. To help us forge ahead, we count on the support of you freedom-loving women and men around the world."