 |
| Mahmud Bilgin |
“In 2009, factions within Iran's government were clashing with each other. But now, it is a society rising up—one distressed by hunger, social hardships, and women’s issues,” says Mahmud Bilgin, assessing the protests of the poor and women in Iran.
The chairman of the South Azerbaijan Democratic Party (GADP) spoke with Voice of America about the response of national movement forces to the protests led by Iranian women.
 |
| The Woman Who Sparked the Wave of Protests Against Mandatory Hijab in Iran |
Renowned human rights activist and lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh later revealed the identity of the woman, announcing that she was in custody. The woman, aged 31 and the mother of a 19-month-old child, was named Vida Movahed according to reports on social media. She was released on January 28.
In the days following her action, other women in Tehran and several other Iranian cities replicated Vida Movahed’s protest. Thousands of social media users now use the hashtag “The Women of Enghelab Square.”
Mahmud Bilgin believes that this protest campaign by women is the beginning of larger movements to come.
“This is a movement that weakens one of the fundamental pillars of the Islamic Republic. This regime is inherently anti-women’s rights and represents a backward, patriarchal authority. These protests could create significant ideological challenges for the regime,” he stated.
 |
| Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, wearing the hijab has been mandatory for women in Iran. |
Turkish activists largely observed the mass protests led by reformists in Iran in 2009 from a neutral stance. However, according to Bilgin, the South Azerbaijan National Movement’s perspective on the recent wave of protests, including those led by women and impoverished groups, is different.
“There is a stark difference between the 2009 protests and the current ones. In 2009, the clashes were between factions within the regime. It was an internal issue. But the movements that began a month ago, although centered in Iran, are different in nature. This time, it is a society—one unaffiliated with the regime—rising up out of concern for hunger, social hardships, and women’s problems,” Bilgin said.
He explained, “Initially, the forces of the South Azerbaijan National Movement observed these protests quietly. But later, we needed to respond... This movement is fundamentally a national liberation movement against chauvinism. However, in South Azerbaijan, we must also address the issues of women, workers, and the unemployed. Unemployment is higher in our region compared to the center, and women face greater oppression. We must support their protests. Alongside our national demands, we must also bring women’s issues and social justice to the forefront.”
Mahmud Bilgin added, “We have successfully raised awareness about the issue of the Turkish language alongside the issue of Lake Urmia, and the public recognizes that the National Movement has advocated for Lake Urmia. Similarly, the National Movement must demonstrate the same commitment to women’s issues, workers’ rights, and other social matters. In the past, there was confusion, with some believing that the women’s movement was at odds with the national movement. But now we have moved past that stage...”
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Mahmud Bilgin: Qadın məsələsi və ictimai ədalətə diqqət yetirilməlidir