Mrs. AKRAM MIRHOSEINI, PROMINENT POLITICAL ACTIVIST, PASSED AWAY
PARIS 26 Mar. (IPS) Dr. Akram Mirhoseini, a prominent human rights activist fighting for the equal rights of Iranian women, died Saturday of a chronic cancer at her residence in the Paris suburb of Creteil.
An indefatigable political dissident, Mrs. Mirhosseini , 60, had left Iran to continue the fight against the Islamic Republic’s segregationist and repressive policies discriminating women and minorities.
Holding a Doctorate in Political Economy from Tehran University, Mrs. Mirhoseini founded in Paris the "League of Iranian Women for Democracy" in 1989 and took an active part at International Conferences and venues on Women, promoting the fate of Iranian women suffering from the hardships imposed on them by the Iranian theocracy. ENDS AKRAM DIED 26301
Nalini Kasynathan went to Beijing as Community Aid Abroad's representative. Nalini spoke to Renata Singer about her expectations and experience of the Conference.
Before leavingI have never been to a world conference before and heard all around me that they never achieve anything or take us anywhere and that they are a complete waste of time and money. So I thought what am I doing flying about going to Beijing? I felt this huge responsibility as a representative of Community Aid Abroad. And I wondered how this Conference would help me in my work as a Program Officer working in South Asia.
What I really wanted to find out from Beijing was whether a global women's movement is a possibility. All the time we're making distinctions between Northern and Southern women and I wanted to know how Southern women think about this divide.
Being there
When I arrived, my first response was sheer exhilaration on seeing hundreds
of women of all colours, all sizes, all ages, rural, urban, disabled, with
children and without. Many other delegates seemed to just see the difficulties
and discomforts of getting there. It did take us 10 hours to get to the hotel!
As long as I'm alive that first memory will be a light that will take me
through hard times.
My first impression was that there was a conspicuous absence of men apart
from a few Arab men.
Meeting with Akram Mirhosseini, the President of the League of Iranian
Women for Democracy, was my most memorable and inspiring experience. She is an
Iranian woman who lives in exile in France. Akram Mirhosseini left Iran six
years ago with her son. She could not survive under the oppression in Iran and
she wanted to get out and tell the rest of the world about the plight of Iranian
women.
She has cancer and can only see out of one eye. She lives with very little
financial support but continues to do this work of exposing the plight of
Iranian women internationally. Of course that's why she was at the Conference
doing press releases and giving workshops.
At Beijing she was debating directly with the Iranian women who were
representatives of the Iranian Government, who came to Beijing escorted by men.
These other women were saying that Iran is Paradise for women with more freedom
than ever and a better quality of life. They came with beautifully produced
expensive publications that they were distributing free of charge. Akram had
just a couple of women helping her.
She risks her life every day. Everyone knew who she was. While I was talking
to her a call came through from her son telling her that her sister in Iran was
in danger because of Akram's activities. Akram said, "Hundreds of women's
lives are at risk. I can't just think of her one life. I'm sorry, I can only
pray for her."
Meeting her and talking to her and other women like her was very special to
me They are prepared to put their lives on the line. The Conference reminds you
that such women exist, that such causes exist and that there is much worth
fighting for.
Coming home again
The most important thing for me was meeting with and knowing that women's
groups are alive and strong. I feel very optimistic about the women's movement.
There are many strong regional networks - many strong Northern and Southern
women are working together. Though few, we have made gains over the past ten
years and now I feel that 'all is realisable'. I feel I have a purpose to work
and achieve as part of the world-wide women's movement.
The movement is black, white - all colours together. The distinctions are not
there for grass roots women. For me, the opening song at Beijing says it all
"we are moving forward, we will not go back".
