“Iranian women activists give no blank check”

Shahrzad News interviews Negar, a women rights activist living in Tehran. She is 35 and a law-graduat and currently unemployed.

“Our experiences over the past few years have taught us that we should not give anyone a blank check. Once they have made a good job of things, then is the time to show our appreciation. Now that the two factions of the regime are occupied with domestic problems, we should challenge those who have pledged to deliver our demands, and ask for more. The release of all political prisoners, freedom of internet use, civil and political liberties, we were promised these to encourage people to vote. We must pursue these demands along with other outstanding issues.

One the problems for us as political activists is that public opinion in our country changes overnight, and our analysis of a situation may be incorrect. If we press for implementation of their demands, will the public stay with us?

Activists in different fields have to do all their preparation and campaign activities empty-handed and alone, to win the support of the people. This regime even banned peaceful assembly. How can we understand the mood and mentality of the people when journalists become political activists themselves, supporting this or that faction, instead of doing their job? Unfortunately certain exiled media people are also engaged in political activity rather than providing information.

The problem of Iranian society and its social movements is that our media organizations take on the role of the opposition.

The opposition does not have direct access to public opinion, so run the risk that it might change course at the eleventh hour, in an unpredictable way.

As regards women’s demands we must monitor the Rowhani cabinet to see what it actually does. Which of his promises will he deliver? His election may have raised hopes but people are afraid they won’t be realized.

One very interesting public incident happened after the elections, a truly valuable consequence that we should treasure. A number of people began shouting: “It’s a woman’s choice and a woman’s right to wear Hejab or not.”

All earlier slogans on this matter protested about the obligation to wear hejab, but this one sprang up without any prior organization and provides a potential solution to this social problem for women, in short that it makes hejab a matter of an individual’s choice. Activists in all areas of society should make use of the potential that exists among the people, and promote their causes tirelessly.”