http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/2013/06/05/iran-election/

We are Human too; Half of Iran and the
World<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/2013/06/05/iran-election/>

Politics <http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/category/politics/>

by Maryam 
Namazie<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/author/maryamnamazie/>

[image: 
brand-identity_fitnah]<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/files/2013/06/brand-identity_fitnah.jpg>When
asked about the women registering for Iran’s upcoming presidential
election, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a member of the Guardian Council, which
vets all candidates, said:

“It is reminiscent of the person who wasn’t allowed to enter a village but
was nonetheless asking to meet the village elder. The law doesn’t allow
women to run… The general conditions are specified in Article 115 of the
constitution; it says ‘one must be elected from amongst religious-political
men’”.

Imagine a society in which half the population is excluded from running for
office! Clearly, the “election” is a farce for women – but also men.

After all, Iran is a theocracy. Only those with “a convinced belief in the
fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official
religion of the country” can run for office.

There are no political freedoms. Political parties opposed to the
government are banned. Parties and associations cannot be formed unless
they obey the criteria of Islam, and the basis of the Islamic republic.

There is no freedom of expression and press.

Dissidents are routinely tortured, imprisoned and executed for questioning
the regime, its leaders, and transgressing Islamic norms.

Over 130 offences are publishable by death, including blasphemy, apostasy,
heresy, enmity against God, adultery, and homosexuality.

Women in particular are treated as second class citizens. Women have no
right to work or travel without a male guardian’s permission, certain
fields of study are closed to women; veiling is compulsory; and a woman’s
testimony is worth half that of a man’s, amongst others.

The international media’s portrayal of the “election” circus as legitimate
ignores the repressive and misogynist nature of the state and people’s
resistance.

Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation reiterates its opposition to the
Islamic regime of Iran and the election farce.

Women and men in Iran – like people everywhere – have a fundamental right
to democratic politics, equality, freedom and secularism. A precondition
for real change is an end to the Islamic regime – not by US-led militarism
or economic sanctions – but by the women’s liberation movement and the
people of Iran.

On 14 June, join us to oppose the “election” and to show solidarity with
the people of Iran.

We are Islamism’s worst fitnah!

To join Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation, visit
here<https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/fitnah>
.

For more information, contact:
Mina Ahadi, +49 (0) 1775692413
Keyvan Javid: +44 (0) 7861476869
Maryam Namazie: +44 (0) 7719166731
BM Box 1919, London WC1N 3XX, UK
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://fitnahmovement.blogspot.co.uk/
Website: www.fitnah.org/

-----------------------------------------------

JUN052013
Amina Akbar<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/2013/06/05/amina-akbar/>

Politics <http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/category/politics/>

by Maryam 
Namazie<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/author/maryamnamazie/>

[image: zkkRgXYV13]

Tunisian FEMEN activist Amina was brought back to court today in handcuffs
and covered in a blanket.

The “secret hearing” under police supervision meant that the decision of
the court is unknown, according to FEMEN.

Amina faces up to two years in prison
<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/2013/06/02/release-amina-and-femen-activists-now/>for
writing “FEMEN” on a mosque wall and carrying pepper spray for her own
protection.

Whilst Islamists are free to roam the streets to kill and intimidate at
will, our dissenters are locked up behind bars and threatened with
imprisonment.

We must not leave Amina alone. She speaks for all of us.

Also, the three FEMEN activists – Marguerite, Josephine and Pauline – who
staged a topless protest at the court in Tunisia at Amina’s first hearing
and who are now in jail and face prison terms must be freed immediately. In
the courtroom, the activists bags had been put over their heads and they
were covered in blankets; the judge banned photos and videos. According to
human rights activist Patrick Klugman, who came from Paris to represent the
interests of the FEMEN said: “I am horrified. Without giving FEMEN
activists permission to speak, the court listened only to Salafi
organizations which are not even the defendants in this case! Fair trial
did not take place because the accused have not been released from custody,
and they were not even heard.” Pre-trial is set for June 12.

Any day the four spend in prison is a day too long. They have done nothing
wrong.

[image: 
4PHGns01MU]<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/files/2013/06/4PHGns01MU.jpg>

On the eve of the hearing, FEMEN activists held a “prayer” on the road near
the Tunisian embassy in Paris chanting “Amina Akbar!”

Amina is great indeed…

[image: 
YfcecsT7R6]<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/files/2013/06/YfcecsT7R6.jpg>

For more information, visit FEMEN’s website. <http://femen.org/en>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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