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| Azra Azari |
“The South Azerbaijan women's movement must be independent and guided by women,” says women's rights activist Azra Azari. In an interview with Voice of America, the Azerbaijani activist discussed the women’s movement in South Azerbaijan and its relationship with the national movement.
“The social movement develops in three stages: awakening, revival, and organization,” Azra Azari emphasizes. According to her, the women’s movement in Iranian Azerbaijan is currently in the awakening phase. She believes that the women’s movement in the South should form independently from the South Azerbaijan National Movement and the Iranian women's movement.
“Azerbaijani women have played a significant role in the Iranian women's movement and in the fight for women's rights. However, they have not participated in this movement with their national and ethnic identities,” the women’s rights defender notes. “If the national movement is fighting for the democratic rights of the nation, it must also defend the rights of all groups within society, including women.” Azari also claims that the national movement in the South does not pay enough attention to women and women's rights.
Currently living in exile in Sweden, the South Azerbaijani activist stresses the importance of respecting women’s positions not just in words but also in real actions, as well as their participation in political processes: “In the South Azerbaijan national movement, women are respected in words, but this must also be reflected in action. The movement must consider the women's perspective in every step of the struggle.”
Azra Azari also shared her thoughts with Voice of America about how men from the South can participate in the women’s movement: “It is very positive and valuable for men to join the women’s movement, but it is not correct for them to play a leading role or take over the decision-making. The women’s movement must be independent and guided by women.”
Originally from Tabriz, the activist also considers the traditional attitude of society toward women to be partially problematic. In her opinion, “The attitude toward women in society has changed, and it is necessary to instill a perspective that prioritizes women’s rights.” Azra Azari believes that since women have been kept away from the public sphere, their self-confidence is low. Therefore, she argues, positive discrimination for women should be implemented in society.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Əzra Azəri: Güney Azərbaycan qadın hərəkatı müstəqil olmalıdır