Latest Stories from Eylül
Iran delays mandatory hijab law following global outrage
The strictest law in Iran's history concerning the compulsory veil was supposed to be enacted on December 13. In a hopeful turn of events, global outrage has forced the administration to hold off on the bill's implementation. Participating in digital activism in all possible ways - only to rarely witness positive outcomes - may make you wonder, ‘What's the point?’ Recent events in Iran, however, have given us renewed hope...
Iran weaponizing ‘mental health clinics’ for those defying hijab laws
Policies targeting those who refuse to cover up in Iran are growing increasingly strict, with many now at risk of being labeled as mentally ill and subjected to so-called treatment. Maya Angelou once said, ‘Whenever a woman stands up for herself - whether she realizes it or not - she stands up for all women.’ This month, activists worldwide have not only taken a stand but have physically stripped in...
Libya’s women face new threats under ‘morality police’ revival
On November 6th, Emad al-Tarabulsi, the Interior Minister of the Tripoli-based administration, informed plans to re-establish the morality police. The declaration has ignited widespread fears about the erosion of women’s rights in the country. Big Brother has long stopped being a fictional concept. In Libya, it now threatens to monitor people’s lives under the pretext of protecting Islamic social values. Starting next month, these patrols are expected to impose strict measures,...
You might also be suffering from vicarious trauma
As we encounter countless images and news of people in distress, navigating our emotions is becoming increasingly difficult. Remember those stories we heard as kids that made the world seem like nothing but sunshine and happiness? Growing up, we all come to realize that life isn’t a fairy tale. Still, most of us never imagined the extent of agony we’d encounter. With just a click, we gained access to almost every corner...
An Iranian female student becomes new symbol of resistance
Most Iranians have had enough of mandatory hijab enforcement. A video released on Saturday has gone viral, capturing global attention, and spotlighting the situation in Iran. As Iranian women continue to fight for their rights and autonomy — especially since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022 — young people have taken on an increasingly active role in this wave of dissent. Amid growing tensions, a student’s protest at...
Opinion – we need to hear Afghan women’s voices now
Taliban de facto authorities have established a new ban, preventing women from hearing other women's voices. At the end of August, the Taliban introduced the Virtue and Vice law, imposing strict regulations on everyday life in Afghanistan, from transportation to personal celebrations and basic freedoms. Article 13, in particular, drew international condemnation for its restrictive measures on women. It forbids them from making eye contact with men outside their family...
What could Russia’s potential ban on ‘children-free’ propaganda mean?
The Russian government's push to reinforce traditional values is intensifying, now targeting media presence about choosing not to have children. What kind of future are you imagining? If children aren’t part of it, you may want to keep that thought to yourself in Russia. After labelling feminists as 'extremists' and banning any media content related to queer people, the Russian government has now set its sights on those promoting 'child-free' propaganda...
Exclusive – Kiana & Ali Rahmani on efforts to free their mother, Narges Mohammadi
We spoke to Kiana and Ali Rahmani about the global campaign called ‘Free Narges Coalition’, launched at the Nobel Peace Center on September 5th - led by PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, and Front Line Defenders - to free their mother, Laureate Narges Mohammadi. Narges Mohammadi has been imprisoned for ten years in Iran, including 135 days in solitary confinement, and now faces another 11 years for her advocacy of...
Nobel Peace Center launches ‘Free Narges Coalition’
The Nobel Peace Center demands the immediate release of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi, who is unjustly imprisoned and has been violated by guards due to her activism. When you hear of someone who has won a prestigious award like the Nobel Peace Prize, you would naturally assume that they are held in high regard in their own country. Unfortunately, Narges Mohammadi is being unjustly imprisoned for her gender equality advocacy and...
Taliban’s first morality law aims to erase women from society
The Taliban's Virtue and Vice law prohibits women from showing their faces and speaking out loud in public. Picture an ordinary day - singing in the shower, reading aloud at home, or perhaps making brief eye contact with someone of the opposite gender while grocery shopping. If you were a woman in Afghanistan, these simple acts, under the new morality law, could result in punishment. Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in...
