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Women’s Rights Take Big Step Back in Iran

Women's Rights Take Big Step Back in Iran

Introduction

A new law passed by Iran’s Parliament has dealt a significant blow to women’s rights in the country. Under the new law, women under the age of 40 will need permission from a male guardian in order to obtain a passport or travel outside the country. The passage of this law has sparked outrage and concern among women’s rights advocates and human rights groups around the world.

History of Women’s Rights in Iran

Women’s rights have long been a contentious issue in Iran. Despite making strides in recent years, women in Iran still face significant challenges and restrictions. For example, women are required to wear headscarves in public, and are subject to discrimination in areas such as education and employment.

New Law Restricts Women’s Freedom of Movement

The new law passed by Iran’s Parliament is a significant setback for women’s rights. Under the law, women under the age of 40 will not be allowed to obtain a passport or travel outside the country without the permission of a male guardian, such as a father or husband. This restriction not only limits women’s freedom of movement, but also reinforces patriarchal structures that prioritize male authority and control over women’s lives.

Impact on Women’s Lives

The passage of this law has significant implications for women’s lives in Iran. It limits their ability to travel for work, education, or leisure, and reinforces gender inequality in the country. The law also perpetuates a cycle of discrimination and oppression that affects not only women, but also the broader society.

International Response and Advocacy Efforts

The passage of this law has sparked outrage and concern among human rights groups and women’s rights advocates around the world. Many have demanded that the Iranian government repeal the law and take steps to promote gender equality and women’s rights in the country. International pressure and advocacy efforts may be necessary to effect change and protect the rights of women in Iran.

Conclusion

The passage of the new law in Iran restricting women’s freedom of movement is a significant setback for women’s rights in the country. It reinforces patriarchal structures and perpetuates discrimination against women. Advocacy efforts and international pressure may be necessary to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women in Iran.


The precarious status of women in Iran has taken another step backwards with the passage of a new law in Iranian Parliament.  According to the text of the new law, which was passed by Iran’s 290 seat Parliament this week, women under the age of 40 will be required to obtain permission from their father or other male guardian before being permitted to obtain a passport or travel outside the country.

Prior to the passage of the new law by parliament, the nation required all people under 18 to receive permission from their father or other male guardian at the time of obtaining a passport.  Women who had attained the age of majority were required to obtain permission from their husbands if they were married, but single women over 18 did not have any requirements that limited their ability to obtain a passport.  Now, even single women would be required to have parental permission to travel—Iranian women already required permission to marry, regardless of their age.

Iranian women’s rights activists are furious over the move, which they say is another in a series of escalating political backlashes to women trying to assert their rights in the Islamic republic.  They note that Iran’s government still allows girls to marry at age 13, and will even allow this age to drop lower if they believe that Islamic law allows it in a particular circumstance.

The rights of women in Iran have varied substantially over the nation’s history.  Historically, while Persia (the older name for Iran) was a male-dominated society, it allowed a substantial amount of room for women’s contributions.  Mid-20th century reforms made it so women were permitted to receive an education and even become part of government.

However, when the current Islamic Republic of Iran government started after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, that government immediately ordered a number of traditionalist reforms that restricted the freedoms of women.  For example, while many Iranian women had chosen to go about their day in public before the revolution without a hijab, or headscarf, new rules required headscarves to be worn at all times when women were in public.

Some positive reforms for women have stuck in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the high rates of education for women and girls.  However, a recent change to the educational laws of Iran also means that there will be fewer college age women attending school there.  Government forces recently moved to restrict women from studying any course of study that was deemed too masculine, including everything from engineering to foreign languages.

Critics of Iran’s new policies say that they are transparent attempts to try to reverse the progress that Iranian women have made over the last decade in overturning oppressive laws and making steps toward equality.  Protests are expected in the capital of Tehran over the new travel restrictions for single women, as well as over other recent policy changes that have affected women negatively.

Sources: awid.org, state.gov