Southern Azerbaijani women’s rights activist Simin Sabri spoke on Voice of America’s "America Review" program, discussing the problems faced by women in Iranian Azerbaijan, the impact of the lack of schools in the native language on girls’ educational opportunities, and protests against the compulsory hijab.
“The system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its Shiite sectarian rule reflected in Iranian laws, directly targets women, who make up more than half of the population,” Simin Sabri stated. According to her, women in a society where radical laws are enforced face immense pressure.
Simin Sabri explained that since 1979, the religious pressures that have been applied to all citizens have particularly affected women’s lives. “A dreadful situation emerged where women could no longer speak out about their rights or even their civil rights. They were forced to wear the hijab, deprived of inheritance rights, and laws were enacted where women received half the inheritance of their brothers. There were also cases where the testimony of two men in court was equal to the testimony of one woman. Women cannot protest against these laws because they are targeted both as a group and individually,” she said.
Despite widespread cases of violence and violations of women’s rights, Sabri noted that obtaining information about these issues is extremely difficult.
Simin Sabri also discussed the impact of the lack of education in the native language in Southern Azerbaijan, which has led to increased illiteracy and deprived girls of future opportunities. “If these girls had been taught in their native language, Turkish, they would have gone to school, and the media would have spread information in their language. They would have learned about the tragedies of early marriage from the radio and newspapers. Language conditions enable people in remote areas to be informed about their rights, health, and sexual and mental well-being. Being deprived of this knowledge leads to major tragedies. In these areas, girls are left with little option but to learn domestic chores and marry early.”
Simin Sabri also viewed the recent protests against the compulsory hijab in Iran as a positive development. “I see this as a peaceful protest within a framework of calm. It is very positive because the hijab infringes not only on women’s group rights but also on their human rights, freedom of thought, freedom of dress, and freedom to listen to music. As a result, individual protests become a symbol.”
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Simin Səbri: İran rejimi qadınları birbaşa hədəf alır