Imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi is urging women across Iran to stand up against what she calls a “full-scale war against women” by the authorities.
Mohammadi, currently detained in Tehran’s Evin prison, implored Iranian women to defy the intensified enforcement of the country’s Islamic dress code by sharing their stories of arrest and sexual assault on her Instagram page.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iranian officials recently announced a sweeping initiative to ensure women adhere to the Islamic headscarf mandate imposed since the 1979 revolution.
Activists have reported instances of women being arrested and taken into custody by the morality police, with the social media hashtag “war against women” gaining traction.
In a plea recorded via a phone call from Evin prison and disseminated by her supporters, Mohammadi called on people inside and outside of Iran—artists, intellectuals, workers, teachers, and students—to protest this assault on women’s rights.
She stressed the importance of sharing these experiences to expose the oppressive regime and dismantle its misogynistic policies.
Drawing attention to the plight of other female prisoners like journalist and student Dina Ghalibaf, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by security forces, Mohammadi highlighted the systemic abuse endured by women in Iran.
Her passionate appeal resonates with her enduring commitment to advocating for human rights in the country, for which she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
