Noruzi: Struggle for 'Jin, jiyan, azadi' reached heart of Iran

  • women
  • 09:35 12 September 2024
  • |
img

NEWS CENTER - Stating that the struggle in Iran is against the domination over the woman body, activist Shaghayegh Noruzi said: “The struggle of the philosophy of ‘Jin, jiyan, azadi’ has reached Tehran, the heart of Iran.” 

Jîna Emînî, a 22-year-old woman from Rojhilat, was detained in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 13, 2022 for “not covering her head in accordance with Islamic principles”. She died in the hospital where she was taken from the detention center on September 16. The wave of resistance that started in Kurdistan after Emînî's death was not limited to Iran, but also witnessed waves of protests around the world. Millions of organized and unorganized people from different identities, beliefs and politics came together around the slogan “jin, jiyan, azadi (Woman, life, freedom)”. Although each of them had different areas of struggle, the main goal of all of them was freedom. 
 
Shaghayegh Noruzi, one of the founders of the “Me Too” movement, spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the anniversary of Emînî's murder and the philosophy of “jin, jiyan, azadî” that continues to have a worldwide impact.
 
'JIN, JIYAN, AZADÎ' PHILOSOPHY 
 
Noruzi, a women's rights activist who was forced to flee the country years ago, said that there have been many uprisings in Iran at different times, but they have not been as effective as the resistance two years ago. “There have been many uprisings and protests in Iran on various issues. However, none of them carried the philosophy of the uprising two years ago. This philosophy was based on the philosophy of the 'jin, jiyan, azadi' movement. This philosophy that emerged in Kurdistan, carrying the weight of its own history and struggle, reached Tehran, the heart of Iran, and brought people together around the issue of repression. One of the critical effects of this slogan in Iran was that it united various movements against oppression, such as the women's and labor movements. It was able to push them towards a common goal. It created a general consensus in the heart of society on the issue of gender and sexual oppression” she said.  
 
'MADE MEN QUESTION THEMSELVES'
 
Stating that the months-long protests pushed men to question themselves, Noruzi said: “Men joined the uprising and some even adopted the 'jin, jiyan, azadi' philosophy. Kurdish women have been struggling for years to put this philosophy into practice, forcing Kurdish men to reconsider their role in gender equality, but the women's movement in Iran was not as strong.” 
 
'WOMEN SCARE THE REGIME'
 
Stating that women in Iran are struggling under very difficult conditions, Noruzi noted that gender and sexual discrimination in Iran is very deep and said: “Sexual violence terrorizes women, the poorest and most abused segment of society, every day. They have no safe space, not at home, not on the street, not in the workplace, not in universities. They have no access to justice and the government can easily decide what happens to their bodies, including controlling their reproductive rights. They do not have the basic human right to choose their clothes, even when it comes to the headscarf. The struggles of women in the country must be seen in this context. For years we have campaigned on everything from abortion rights to combating sexual violence, we have tried to implement the most radical forms of change, but we have always faced serious repression. So it seems natural to me that the uprising that poses the biggest threat to the regime is an uprising that focuses on gender equality. That is why they are so afraid of the 'jin, jiyan, azadî' uprising.” 
 
Noruzi said that the issue was never about hair or clothes, “The issue is that this regime defines its stability according to the degree of control it can exert over women's bodies. It is very important that we remove this stability and take back control” she said. 
 
'REFORMISTS HAVE FAILED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION'
 
Recalling the election of reformist Masoud Pezeshkian in Iran's presidential elections, Noruzi stated that although reformists have been in power for some time, there has been no change for women's rights. Noruzi said: “Reformists and reformism are part of the collective political experience of the Iranian people, it was a time when people thought it was possible to create change within the system. People brought reformists to power to eliminate discriminatory laws. As you know, this regime thrives by creating discrimination between social groups.” 
  
'ORIGIN OF THE PHILOSOPHY IS ABDULLAH ÖCALAN'
 
Referring to the philosophy of “Jin, jiyan, azadî”, Noruzi said that the origin of the philosophy is PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurds. Noruzi stated the following: “It is important to understand the origins of this slogan, not only to give credit to the people of Kurdistan and Abdullah Öcalan, but also to see what needs it responds to. After a significant political experience, Abdullah Öcalan realized that special attention should be paid to gender and sexual discrimination. He saw women as a particularly discriminated class and fought for their rights. Ultimately, he concluded that the Kurds could not achieve freedom and liberation unless women were given the right to representation. This was a great discovery in a very traditional society like Kurdistan. Öcalan emphasized women's leadership, but it is important to note that he did not just propose this philosophy and step aside. Kurdish women fought to reclaim their rights on the basis of this philosophy. So when we look at the origins of this slogan, we see a historical context full of lessons. This is why this slogan is seen as a magic formula for addressing Middle Eastern issues.”
 
MA / Berivan Kutlu  
 

View More Articles

23/01/2025
10:26 International conventions the law of war are ignored in Tishreen says Journalist Cihan
09:49 Isolation must be lifted, negotiations must be opened says İHD member Güldane Kılıç
22/01/2025
13:53 Syrian Foreign Minister Sheibani calls on Kurds
13:43 144 violations detected in İmralı
12:33 Young man run over by an armoured vehicle: I was beaten, the doctor did not examine me
11:49 Letter he wrote about violations considered as 'disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of the state'
11:21 Journalist Eylem Babayiğit detained
10:59 DEM Party delegation in İmralı
10:35 Palestinian woman reunited with her 'hostage' baby
10:34 What do relatives of the disappeared say about the Kurdish issue?
10:21 Attacks violating right to life must be stopped says Lawyer
10:08 They must sit at table and talk about solution say Prisoners' relatives
10:01 Raphaëlle Primet: Öcalan is indispensable for the solution of the Kurdish issue
09:52 New government conundrum in Federated Kurdistan
09:20 240 detentions in 2 weeks
08:59 DEM Party Delegation will go to İmralı
21/01/2025
16:50 Freedom Watch in Strasbourg in its 657th week
16:44 Tens of thousands honour those massacred in Tishreen
16:34 Rojhilat prisoners call for participation in general strike
16:33 2024 balance sheet of SDF in fight against ISIS
15:12 Turkey attacks olive factory
14:50 Message from Bavê Teyar's prisoner daughter
14:21 Attack on Tishreen: Wounded
14:21 Call to increase struggle at trustee protest in Akdeniz
12:07 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
12:06 Abdullah Öcalan letter from intellectuals to Council of Europe
11:18 Same judge arrested 13 journalists in a month
11:04 Decision was pre-determined says arrested journalists lawyer
10:30 Prisoner who objected to handcuffing not treated
09:43 'There will be no peace until Abdullah Öcalan is free'
20/01/2025
16:23 6 journalists arrested
16:16 Attacks on Tishreen condemned in 3 centers
15:05 Trustee protest in Akdeniz on its 11th day
15:04 Protest for Pakshan Azizi in front of Iranian Embassy
14:47 Turkey bombed water reservoir
14:46 'Peace' meeting of women: Our struggle for a free life
13:38 Reaction from 12 bar associations on attacks against Tishreen
12:30 Prosecutor referred journalists for arrest without taking testify
12:17 General strike against executions in Rojhilat
12:02 İmralı Delegation apply to Ministry of Justice
11:51 It's state's turn to take steps, CHP must be part of process says Tülay Hatimoğulları
11:26 Detained journalists appear in court
10:41 People react against Tishreen attacks
10:08 6 prisoners sentenced for cutting wires
09:52 Justice Commission for Rojin Kabaiş: We will follow the case
09:17 'Shoe search' imposition to women prisoners
19/01/2025
12:40 Jin magazine focuses on women's resistance against labour exploitation
10:32 Solution through dialogue will be benefical for everyone says Salih Muslim
10:32 İmralı Delegation apply to Ministry of Justice tomorrow
18/01/2025
17:42 Call from Şirnex: Stop the attacks in Tishreen