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