Indian Women’s Organisations Sign Joint Statement with DOIW

Following the Democratic Organization of Iranian Women’s call on progressive and sister organizations to join in the issue of a joint statement as an expression of their support for the struggles of the Iranian people, more than 220 women’s organisations, political parties and civic organisations and individuals in India expressed their solidarity by signing the joint declaration.

Joint statement of democratic women’s organisations in support of the struggle of Iranian women for dignity, equality, peace, justice, and for human and democratic rights

We, the undersigned organisations that campaign for women’s emancipation from every form of exploitation note that:

• On 6^th July 2022, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, ordered stricter implementation of the law of mandatory hejab. Thus, a brutal and aggressive attack on women was instigated on the pretext of defending Islamic hejab and chastity.

• On 16^th September 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested for not having proper hejab. In protest at her death in detention people came to the streets calling for an end to forced hejab.

• The women of Iran, supported by people from every walk of life, are voicing their opposition to over forty years of misogynistic policies reducing women to second class citizens in the economic, political, cultural, and social life of the country and enshrining this in the law of the Islamic Republic.

• Since the protests began thousands of civil activists, university students, teachers, reporters, and workers are reported to have been arrested. Women and young girls have been at the forefront of the protests. Teenage girls and boys are among those who have been killed in detention. More than 150 people, including young children, are reported to have been killed during protests and in detention across Iran, the majority in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

• The slogan of ‘woman, life, freedom’ has identified the main character of the protests, for women’s rights to a life free of state-imposed and religious restrictions.

We further declare our support the Iranian women’s demand for an end to compulsory hejab and the repeal of all laws, and economic, social, and cultural policies that treat women as second-class citizens.

We demand the release of the protesters who have been arrested for peaceful demonstration.  We further request independent and impartial investigations and inquests into the death of the detainees and protesters.

We condemn the reactionary religious dictatorship ruling Iran for its repressive policies against protesters who exercise their legitimate rights to protest in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We reject and resist any direct or indirect intervention in the internal affairs and developments in Iran from any quarter, especially from the United States, the UK, the European Union, and Israel. The future of the political system in Iran is solely and exclusively a matter for the people of Iran and no one else.

The representatives of the following organisations in India have signed the joint declaration.

National Federation of Indian Women

All India Democratic Women’s Association

Revolutionary cultural Forum (RCF)

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Red Star

Communist Party of India

Justice Coalition of Religious

Indian Social Action Forum

SrijanatmakManushi Sanstha

Progressive organization for women POW

RAHAB Centre for Hope

CWcSN (Centre for Women & children Solidarity Network)

National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)

Women’s Collective

Telangana Domestic workers Union

Punjab Stri Sabha Women’s meeting

Rajasthan Mahila Federation

Bihar Mahila Federation

Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA)

National Platform for the Rights of Disabled

Uttar Pradesh Mahila Federation

These regional organisations in India have signed the joint declaration:

Bangalore Dalit Forum                                                       India, Karnataka

RCF                                                                                         India, West Bengal

Paschim Banga Mahila Samiti                                           India, West Bengal

Women’s Voice                                                                    India, Karnataka

Women’s collective                                                              India, Karnataka

Mahila Swaraj                                                                      India, Haryana

Bahutva Karnataka                                                             India, Karnataka

Where Are The Women                                                      India, Telangana

Democratic Teachers’ Front, Delhi University                India, Delhi

National Federation of Indian Women (CPI)                  India, Karnataka, West Bengal & Delhi

RahethanAdhikar Manch                                                   India, Gujarat

Institute of Social Sciences                                                 India, New Delhi

All India Youth Federation                                                  India, Karnataka

Though our sisters in the National Federation of Indian Women, we have also received the signatures of around 200 individuals, activists, journalists, advocates, writers, workers, university students, teachers, doctors, and others from all walks of life. We thank them for their solidarity with the women of Iran in our current struggle.