His in-depth report serves as a piercing outcry against the regime’s crackdown on female protestors, a primary catalyst of the ongoing nationwide uprising in Iran.
Stevenson, a seasoned politician, served as a Member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), President of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14), and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). His work in the field of Iranian political freedoms is highlighted by his chairmanship of the ‘In Search of Justice’ committee.
The brutal killing of Kurdish girl Mahsa Amini by the morality police for improper hijab wearing last September sparked a movement, which has placed women’s rights at the core of the unrest. Schoolgirls joining the protests were harshly rebuked by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an act that was followed by a series of toxic chemical attacks on schools.
May 2 – Baneh, western #Iran
Regime operatives launched a chemical gas attack targeting the all-girls Saleh Ali-Mohammadi Elementary School, according to local reports.#IranChemicalAttacks pic.twitter.com/evBwunHPrM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 2, 2023
Efforts by the regime to suppress the uprising, including a temporary retraction of the morality police and the appointment of new police chief Ahmadreza Radan, have had little effect. Rather than appease the protestors, the regime’s actions, including the installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces to monitor women’s clothing and the closure of businesses serving unveiled women, have fanned the flames of dissent.
The regime’s repression extends to educational institutions as well, with many students, particularly those involved in protests, being suspended or expelled. The case of Niloufar Mirzaii, a female student arrested and subsequently suspended from Al-Zahra University, is one of many similar cases.
Despite the brutalities, the opposition, led by the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), continues the protests undeterred. Marching through Tehran and other cities, these Resistance Units openly chant against the regime. Despite facing potential death penalties, their resolve remains strong.
Stevenson concludes by acknowledging the four decades of hardship the Iranian people have endured under the current regime and urges the West to support the protestor’s fight for a free and secular Iran. The plight of Iranian women has brought to the surface long-standing discontent, and despite continued suppression, the fight for change rages on.
Source » mek-iran