On International Women’s Day, Tehran’s Systematic Discrimination Against Women Continues Unabated

(New York, N.Y.) — As the international community commemorates International Women’s Day, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s abhorrent disregard for basic human rights is brought to the forefront through its systematic discrimination against women and should serve as a reminder of the regime’s brutality and oppression of women in Iran.

Two years ago, the regime arrested two Iranian women — Yasaman Aryani and her mother Monireh Arabshahi — for “inciting and facilitating corruption and prostitution” after passing out flowers to women at the Tehran metro station while not wearing hijabs, which is a criminal offense in Iran. Each received 16-year prison sentences, which were later reduced. Their imprisonment also highlights the high volume of jailed female rights activists in Iran’s judicial system, including decorated human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI)’s resource, Iran’s War On Women, outlines the heinous acts of violence and targeted oppression of women by the regime, and analyzes how Tehran discriminates against its female citizens. 

The Iranian regime continues to discriminate systematically against women, treating them as second-class citizens. Tehran enables violence against women and sexual exploitation of girls; harasses, jails, fines, and flogs women for crimes like appearing in public without covering their hair and bodies; forcibly segregates women from men; disproportionately punishes women in the judicial system; cracks down on activists for women’s rights; denies women political and economic opportunities; and favors men over women in family and inheritance law. 

To read UANI’s resource, Iran’s War On Women, please click here.

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