On September 13, 2022, Jîna Emînî was detained in Tehran, the capital of Iran, for allegedly not covering her head “according to the rules”. She died on September 16 due to the torture she was subjected to in detention. After Emînî's death, the resistance spread from Rojhilat to Iran with the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî (woman, life, freedom)” and spread all over the world. Emînî's death sparked a great resistance movement not only in Iran but also around the world.

 

The Secret Women's Committee, which was founded in Iran and embraces feminist, LGBTQ+ and ecological struggles in Iran and the Middle East, made a written assessment to our agency on the women's struggle in the Middle East on the anniversary of Emînî's murder. 

 

'ANGER AGAINST THE REGIME HAS GROWN'

 

Recalling the protests organized by Vida Movahed against the compulsory headscarf in Iran before Emînî, as well as the large-scale protests in 2017 and 2019, the committee noted that the news of Emînî's assassination has only amplified the existing anger. “Women and queer individuals who had endured systemic oppression strongly identified with Zhina's plight. When the devastating news reached us, we were profoundly shaken, just like everyone else. We felt compelled to take action, and the mass gatherings at the hospital and Zhina's funeral in Aichi Cemetery made it clear that the streets were where the necessary resistance would unfold.” 

 

'WOMEN ARE CHALLENGING PATRIARCHY' 

 

Noting that women in Iran have been struggling against all anti-women practices since the 1979 revolution, the committee continued  “Throughout this period, many women have fought to highlight women's rights, but we must recognize the diversity within the women's movement - they are not a monolithic group with identical characteristics. The varying conflicts among women from different social classes prevent us from identifying a single type of resistance. Our perspective on the women who protested during the Zhina uprising reflects this nuanced understanding. 

 

Women's resistance against the patriarchal system has been intertwined with a broader struggle against marginalization, centralized power, and the capitalist order. For women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, their fight against gender oppression is inseparable from their battle against the broader systemic forces that have long kept their communities oppressed and disempowered. When these women raise their voices against the Iranian government, they are challenging not just the patriarchal norms but the very foundations of the social, economic, and political structures that have subjugated them.

 

'JIN, JIYAN, AZADÎ' EXPOSED

 

The women of Baluchistan bravely connected their protest against the horrific rape of a young girl by a police officer to the larger Zhina uprising, bringing the struggles of Baluchi women to the forefront. In a region where systemic national oppression, patriarchal norms, and the central government's neoliberal agenda had conspired to marginalize Baluchi women, these women demonstrated remarkable agency and resilience, an inspiring testament that continues to resonate with us.

While the suppression of women in Iran is not a new phenomenon, the Zhina uprising exposed this oppression to the world on an unprecedented scale. Yet, the global response, despite its widespread nature, has failed to yield any meaningful change for Iranian women. Symbolic gestures, such as cutting hair by individuals outside Iran, cannot be regarded as genuine resistance. This underscores the stark reality that despite heightened awareness, there has been no substantial or tangible improvement in the conditions of women in Iran.

 

COLECTIVE STRUGGLE

 

The true path forward is a struggle that challenges not just the ‘masculine mentality’, but also the oppressive systems of capitalism and patriarchy simultaneously. Mere representation of women in positions of power is insufficient; true liberation requires dismantling the very structures that perpetuate oppression. What will unite women's resistance globally is not just their gender, as the concept of ‘sisterhood’ between oppressors and the oppressed is meaningless. Rather, their connection must be forged around a progressive, transformative vision for the future.

 

The co-option of the powerful ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ slogan by reactionary forces who prioritize superficial alliances with celebrity women is deeply concerning. We must critically identify and amplify the women's struggles that are authentically committed to dismantling the existing oppressive order and building a transformative new vision.

 

 

The idea of women worldwide uniting may seem idealistic and impractical as the internal contradictions within such a vast organization could lead to the establishment of power hierarchies and the reproduction of dominance. However, we believe the struggle must be collective and aimed at liberating all oppressed people. Women and LGBTQ+ groups can learn from each other's progressive struggles and strengthen one another by sharing experiences and strategies. Just as oppressive systems globally advance certain interests, we need collective organization and collaboration to counter them. This is only possible through self-criticism and defining a shared struggle rather than recreating hierarchies of dominance. We must strive to forge a collective struggle where all voices are elevated, and everyone plays a crucial part. This approach not only fortifies us against oppressive forces but also empowers us to envision and fight for a more equitable and just world.”

 

MA / Hivda Çelebi