Iran’s Progress Depends on Equal Rights for Men and Women
Amani told the Mehr News Agency that the issue of women’s rights is rooted in Iran’s culture, adding that certain Iranian customs are the cause of most of women’s problems.
“The law should be firm and strong and precisely implemented in order to prevent any kind of injustice toward women and to afford them their inalienable rights,” she said.
The MP stated that women should become aware of their civil and social rights, adding that the government and the media should play a decisive role in disseminating information about the individual and social rights of women.
Amani said that Iran’s traditional and agricultural societies of the past created many problems in regard to their treatment of women, adding that the government should solve the problems by educating women in the fields of social science and basic rights.
The MP said that the main problems are in the country’s laws, the Majlis, and the fact that women’s rights have not been institutionalized.
She added that clerics should try to solve the problems by updating their approach to the issue of women’s rights.
Women themselves should also attempt to establish a presence in religious fields in order to help update the interpretation of women’s rights, she said.
“It doesn’t seem prudent to limit women’s rights in order to establish equilibrium in society,” she said in conclusion. Iranian Women’s Expectations Rising: MP “There is no difference between men and women in their need to attain liberty and civil and human rights,” MP Elaheh Koolaee said here Saturday
The MP told the Mehr News Agency that Iranian women suffer twice as much as men from the problems of society.
“Women suffer due to the general problems of society, as far as underdevelopment, and also suffer due to their inability to gain equal opportunities with men,” she said.
The MP stressed that it is a priority for women to attain their human and civil rights, adding that this issue should be taken into account alongside the issue of women’s political and social rights.
Koolaee said that over the years many attempts have been made to resolve the issue of women’s rights in Iran; however, women were not rewarded for their significant contributions during the Islamic Revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, and in various fields of national development.
She went on to say that Iran has not yet attained its objectives from the time of the Islamic Revolution in regard to women’s rights, adding that more efforts should be made to achieve these goals.
The MP also said that educational activities are of the utmost importance in regard to this issue, adding that the fact that people have incorrect beliefs about women is one of the most serious problems in Iran.
Koolaee stated that women play the most important role in educational and cultural organizations.
“However, we have not yet made proper use of their talent,” she said.
Koolaee highlighted the rise in the number of educated women in the country, adding that this will naturally cause women’s expectations and awareness to increase.
“However if our social and legal system does not respond properly to expectations, the society will face a serious crisis,” she said.
The MP added that government officials should prepare the proper ground for women to attain their rights and should respond promptly to society’s demands.
Koolaee stressed that the expansion of civil institutions and women’s associations throughout the world has proven successful, adding that these associations have played an important role in defending women’s rights.
She went on to say that women should be given the chance to organize and voice their demands and expectations within the framework of government institutions.
Koolaee concluded by saying that the most important measures that must be taken now are recognizing the changes in modern society and fulfilling people’s needs. Islam Recognizes Women’s Human Rights
MP Soheila Jelodarzadeh said that Iran’s civil laws are outdated and cannot grant women all their inalienable rights.
Jelodarzadeh told the Mehr News Agency that women’s status in Iran is not what they want it to be.
She added that the absence of appropriate laws, the violation of rules, and ill-considered actions in the field of women’s affairs have led to the current situation.
The MP said that Iran’s civil law was written ninety years ago and has both Islamic and Western influences.
“This law does not grant women their proper status and cannot guarantee their Islamic, individual, and human rights,” she said.
Jelodarzadeh stressed that Islam recognizes women’s human rights, adding that what currently exists is not pure Islam but a mixture of Islam and pre-Islamic tribal beliefs that partially limits women’s rights.
The MP stressed that one of Islam’s basic rights for women is the right to own property but this right is not fully taken into consideration in the country’s civil laws.
Jelodarzadeh stated that the bills approved by the Majlis are in line with Islamic law and human rights.
She added that the late Imam Khomeini emphasized the need to expand the role of women in all fields.
“Unfortunately, certain backward attitudes have slowed down the process of women attaining their rights,” she said. Sixth Majlis Attempted to Decrease Inequalities Between Men and Women
MP Fatima Haqiqatjou said that women can become more aware of their rights through attaining influential positions.
Haqiqatjou told the Mehr News Agency that Iran should establish the proper legal and social culture for women to improve their status.
She stressed that much more attention has been paid to the issue of women’s rights over the past twenty years.
The MP said that the sixth Majlis attempted to decrease inequalities between men and women.
Haqiqatjou said that the current discrimination is mostly rooted in people’s wrong beliefs about women, which have considerably improved in recent years.
The MP said that the government should pave the way for increased employment of women by modifying its employment regulations.
She stressed that some of main problems of women are the laws in general and the activities of the Judiciary, which should both be modified.
The MP said that improving women’s management skills is one of the best ways to help women achieve equal rights with men.