Articles

Our tormented Afghani sisters,
We, the Iranian women’s movement activists have been trying regularly and responsibly to follow activities ,achievements and failures of women in the area. Because we believe that each achievement or failure which is faced by women specially in our region can have reciprocal effects on Iranian women and our society at large.

This year, 8th March is a day when the gaze of the world and the international community is fixed on Iranian women. These women have obtained the international Simone de Beauvoir prize thanks to their tireless efforts in the One-Million Signatures Campaign. This prize does not belong to one or two people or even a few organisations. This award belongs to all women who gave meaning and purpose to the campaign by their membership, activities,

Feminist School:
August 2006:
The shadow of red sunset had spread on top of the walnut tree in front of my window and disappearing in to the sorrowful darkness and sluggishly becoming colourless Mansoureh Shojaee arrived with her usual cheerfulness and announced that the brave Iranian women who want equality, the group of 50 are to set the motions that would begin the movement to start the campaign. A campaign that would find itself joined by 1 million women and men in signing the deed (...)

"The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that... women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves." Louise Otto, (Luise Otto-Peters), German feminist, 1849
The Iranian Women Equality Calendar is an expanded English version of a Persian women calendar collected and organized by the efforts of Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani and published by Nashre Toseeh first in 1998.. The publication of the “Women Calender†was banned and she was prosecuted in 2003.
In a (...)

Feminist School: The Iranian Women’s Calendar provides a glimpse into the hidden history of Iranian women, a history that has not only remained unfamiliar throughout the world, but one that has yet to receive its due attention in Iran.
It also shows a brief chronology of one Million Signatures campaign that is one of the most important movements in Iran. Women’s world encyclopedias and anthologies are void of Iranian women, despite the significant role they have played in women’s (...)

Feminist School: The importance of Human Right and the emphasise that the Defenders of the Human Right in Iran have in revealing Human right issues, the office of Defenders of Human Right was closed one day before the attack on Gaza. In this difficult situation we managed to issue a statement in condemning the war which has caused human and structural damages.
One week after issuing this statement my office and home was invaded by a group of individuals who tore my licence to practice and (...)

For Shirin Ebadi: a woman I adore and admire
I often think of my past in Iran as a ship that has sunk in the infinity of an ocean somewhere in the ambiguity of time and space. There are very few unforgettable individuals and precious memories that have kept me hopeful for finding this sunken ship of the past one day. One of those powerful images that have kept me hopeful all throughout these years is Shirin Ebadi. I have vivid memories of the few times that I felt so incredibly safe in her (...)

Feminist School: Recently the plan for native selection by gender has been discussed in the revolutionary council for culture as well as parliament’s education commission. According to this plan the examining board is to place girls at the universities in the region of where they live. After the plan was out in the open, some members of the parliament and those responsible seconded the plan and it was deliberated as a from of protection for girls and families. We asked one of the girls (...)

feministschool: Nasrin Sotoudeh is a well known activist in women’s movement and a brave and respected lawyer for most of the women’s movement activists. Ms Sotoudeh started off as a journalist and an expert advisor in International Human Rights and became an active member of Campaign for One million Signatures and hence continuing her activities in Human Rights for Children and in particular against the hanging of children under the age of 18.
In order to analyse the children’s situation in (...)

Feministschool: Since the Feminist School, decided to organize a celebration to express joy for the award to Nasrin Sotoudeh, it brought back so many memories.
Thus, in recent weeks the friends of the Feminist School have thought of applying for permission to hold the ceremony in Farhang Saraya Banu (Banu house of culture ) in Tehran and we thought what would be an appropriate gift to present to a woman who has committed for many years to defend those who needed help?
Two weeks ago we (...)