Centre for Applied Human Rights
Yass
Iran, CAHR, Autumn 2013
I was born in a typical Persian family, patriotic and religious. When I was born, many people went to the streets to protest against the regime in Iran. Opponents could be toppled by the regime, but since the revolution, they did not participate in the new system together. So religious groups came to power. In the first stage (1979-1988) the revolutionary social atmosphere was guided both spiritually and politically by Ayatollah Khomeini. The regime imposed a war and the new regime could under the cover of war propaganda arrest and kill other groups.
At the time I started school, I had to wear a dress forced by the government. As a woman covering up was mandatory, like under the previous regime, but in another form. About twenty-two thousand people were killed in the war; a lot of mothers, young widows and many families were sad and lived in a bad economic situation.
Finally the war ended and reconstruction started under the presidency of Ali Akbar Rafsanjani (1989-1997). In the framework of liberalization policy, "structural adjustment" and reopening of relationships with outside world, a kind of pragmatic cultural policy, was launched. At the time I had finished high school and I was studying political science at the university. It was at the height of increased student awareness. In that political atmosphere, in 1995, I then formed the first student association in my city. We held workshops and seminars to increase the awareness of the socio-political youth.
For the first time since the revolution, a Center for Youth Affairs was established in the Office of the President. When the political atmosphere was open for youth, I focused on the issue of increasing the awareness of young girls about civil rights and empowerment. I wanted to change the situation of women in my city. With the help of both the local press and the local news television channel, I tried to explain the situation. At that time I was the first and only female reporter on the local Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) channel.
When Mohammad Khatami with his pervasive reform programme came to power, the time of women started. Activists could do such things as: establish women's social and cultural center NGOs; form the first women's cooperative; and create the first Women's Marketplace, with the aim of increasing women's economic empowerment. In the NGO where I worked (the women's social and cultural center in my city) we also organised gender equality workshops, family law education for young couples, and women's rights, children's rights and civil rights workshops. I also made news reports and programmes about women's situation for the local television.
At this point in my life meeting new people, new places and learning human rights defending methods are valuable.
Later on I have been active in the One Million Signatures Campaign. It was a grassroots women's movement in Iran aimed at gathering signatures from people in the public, calling for an end to unequal gender legal rights in Iran. Despite activists being detained and even prosecuted, the organization is still active, but on a very limited scale. I have also had an informal study group in my city for young girls. This class is designed for empowerment and community-based capacity building towards reaching a positive life, with enhanced life skills. In this class I also teach drug prevention in order to promote a healthy family life.
In the next phase (2005-2013), as a result of socio-political and cultural repressive policy of the presidency of Mahmood Ahmadinejad, literati, artists and intellectuals were again confronted with limitations and obstacles to their work. So, in 2009, I was arrested for my participation in the One Million Signatures Campaign, and also for taking an active role in exposing a rape by somebody from the ruling class, which could have led to an honour killing by the victim's father. I was in solitary confinement for 15 days. I was subsequently also suspended from my position at IRIB. Like other members of the Campaign, I was prosecuted for "endangering state security". After a year I went on trial and was sentenced to one year in prison. I appealed the sentence and after a few months, a new verdict was issued: six months imprisonment and dismissal from my job. At that time I was chief editor and managed two parts of television news and one part of radio news, both of which were basic parts of local television. Also my NGO office was blocked.
I went to prison again in August 2011 for six months. When I was arrested by the security police in my home, the police acted in a violent manner against my father who was sick. As a result my father had a heart attack and died after 5 days. Three months later, due to international pressure, Iran's leader released a number of prisoners, and I was one of them. Yet I was monitored by the security system long afterwards. I am now not allowed to work in government jobs or in education, to establish NGOs, or to teach in schools.
Finally I want to briefly mention my terrible experiences during the last four years. I was under all kinds of pressure, I was in solitary confinement for two weeks during which I was interrogated from ten to 12 hours each day, and when I was released I waited for trial for almost two years. However, I should say that all this pressure and obstacles have been a great experience for me and, in fact, in a way opened my eyes to certain aspects of the political establishment, and society in general. I have been able to use my experiences in a positive way, and hope to further do so especially now that the new government is attempting to bring forward some changes.
I would like to mention sincerely something that I really feel: I consider this trip to York as a refreshing process for me. Due to all the past events, I might not achieve what I expect from myself or what I was planning to do in York. However, despite all I said I feel I am making progress in everything. At this point in my life meeting new people, new places and learning human rights defending methods are valuable and will be useful in the future.