It Can and Must Be Done

Dignity & Freedom June 26, 2013 It Can and Must Be Done Foreword by Donna M. Hughes for Iranian Women Against Fundamentalism by Maryam Rajavi, President-Elect, National Council of Resistance of Iran Iranian Women Against Fundamentalism, Maryam Rajavi (English Edition, Seven Locks Press, June, 2013) is available through Amazon.com I first heard Maryam Rajavi speak about the Iranian esista e o e e t at a I te atio al Wo e ’s Day event in Paris in 1996. She described the oppression under which the women of Iran live. Following the 1979 revolution Ayatollah Khomeini, the religious dictator, imposed laws that violate o e ’s asi hu a ights. Wo e a e edu ed to the status of dependents who require male elati es’ pe issio fo ost of thei life de isio s. They are under constant surveillance by street police when they are in public. And they are subjected to brutal punishments. She presented an analysis about the nature of the I a ia egi e’s threat to world peace. Today, the o ld k o s those a i gs a e t ue. I a ’s development of nuclear weapons threatens the egio ’s se u it . Its e po t of te o is a d ideology of Islamic fundamentalism, particularly in the Middle East, are contributing to violence, destruction, and war. Maryam Rajavi then explained the solution to the Iranian regime systematic campaigns of ep essio a d te o is . “he des i ed the I a ia o e ’s oppositio to the ullah’s egi e and the transformation of themselves into leaders of a resistance movement. As she spoke a out the o e ’s jou e a d thei a o plish e ts, I ealized I as i the p ese e of profound, revolutionary thinking about the liberation of women. 1 Dignity & Freedom June 26, 2013 As the world debates about how to respond to the Iranian threat, they need to know about the courageous Iranian women and their heroic confrontation with the purest form of misogyny in the world and their dedication to overthrowing the Iranian regime. Their ideas about empowerment, leadership, gender equality and democracy rose out of the hard work of uildi g a o e e t a d de elopi g a st ateg to u de i e the ullahs’ egi e. The women---and men--- of the resistance engaged in self-analysis of their own gender-based thinking to discover why gender inequality persists even in people sworn to oppose it. The first si ple, ut i sightful, dis o e as that e e o e ho elie ed i e ualit did ’t elie e i themselves enough to assume a leadership roles. From that early insight, they initiated a transformation of gender-based beliefs and practices that energized the whole resistance movement. The I a ia o e also a al zed the eligious di tato ship’s ideolog a d opp essi e p a ti es and concluded that the ideas and force behind the egi e’s po e as misogyny, the hatred of women. Maryam Rajavi once told me that the root cause of the oppression of women was sexual exploitation. It was the first time I heard an explanation of the political power of a dictatorship based on the exploitation of women. Maryam Rajavi a gues that the ullahs’ o t ol o e so iet is based on male supremacy and gender apartheid, a term she coined. This is an original and compelling analysis of political power. Maryam Rajavi at launch of French edition of Iranian Women Against Fundamentalism (Les Fe es Co tre L’I tegris e) Maryam Rajavi then takes the logical, but revolutionary, step of concluding that the liberation of the Iranian people from religious fascism depends on liberating women, and women must lead the movement. Today, women lead the Iranian resistance. I’ e had a o e satio s ith the o e a d e of the esista e a out thei experiences. They or their family members have been arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Many women and men have paid a high price for opposing the Iranian regime. The Iranian women have learned that freedom is not free. The resistance is not only pitted against the powerful and ruthless regime, but turbulent geopolitics have undermined them at every turn. Western governments have chosen to appease the Iranian regime by repeatedly betraying the Iranian resistance, resulting in the loss of lives, property, and resources. Yet, they have stayed organized and committed to the resistance even after the kind of blows that would have destroyed other organizations. I am continually impressed by the exceptionally high standard of dedication and acceptance of responsibility they have in fighting the murderous Iranian rulers. Maryam Rajavi is widely known to respond to new challenges by edou li g all effo ts sa i g, It a a d ust e do e. 2 Dignity & Freedom June 26, 2013 The I a ia esista e’s a al sis a d hope fo the futu e has sp ead i side I a , pa ti ula l to women. They are now engaged in a political struggle against misogyny and the regime. They are resisting the daily harassment in the streets, they are participants in protests and they are organizers of networks. A victory promises and end to oppression and the opportunity for equality. The women of the Irania esista e a e the ullahs’ o st ight a e. A o di g to thei ale sup e a ist ideolog , these i tellige t, ou ageous, dedi ated o e leade s a ’t e ist. Furthermore, the women have promised to destroy their misogynous political system. The Irania esista e’s a al sis a d goals a e e olutio a . Thei e ge of hu a ights, gender equality and democracy with Islam is a new political and social system. They aim not only to overthrow a brutal government, but also to advocate a tolerant and democratic Islam. Their goal is nothing short of a profound social, political, and religious revolution that will have a global impact. The world beyond Iran needs these ideas and practices of creating gender equality. In countries around the world, especially western democracies, there has been progress on o e ’s legal ights a d pa ti ipatio i the pu li sphe e. Yet, as e ide ed o ti ui g violence against women, sexual assaults, sex trafficking and degrading pornography, misogyny is still as persistent as ever. The Iranian women are leading the way by destroying one of the most hateful and destructive ideologies to come out of the 20th century—Islamic fundamentalism. Maryam Rajavi believes that the 21st century will be the century for the full emancipation of women. She is calling on women and all democratic people of the world to unite in a front against Islamic fundamentalism. Donna M. Hughes Professor and Eleanor M. and Oscar M. Carlson Endowed Chair Wo e ’s “tudies P og a , U i e sit of Rhode Island May 2013 3