Stories from women in Iran

[RelaxAndDetox]

To those who asked why Iranian women Marzieh and Reyhaneh didn't report rape in court before defending themselves.

Marzieh Nayeri was forced to marry a man at 17. Child marriage is legal under Sharia law in Iran.

At 18, her husband's business associate, drunk, in her own home, tried to sexually assault her. Her husband watched and did nothing. She grabbed a kitchen knife. She fought back. The attacker was wounded. Her husband was killed. She hid for four days. Then she went to her brother for help. He turned her in to the police.

She recorded a message for her mother before her execution:

"I want the world to know what is being done to me."

Iran hanged her on August 8, 2026. She was 24.

Reyhaneh Jabbari was 19 when a former intelligence officer tried to sexually assault her. She fought back. He died. She spent seven years in Evin Prison. The world signed petitions. Iran sharpened the rope. She was 26.

Iran hanged her anyway. In 2014.

Under Sharia law in Iran, to prove rape, a woman must produce four male witnesses to the act itself.

Four. Male. Witnesses.

If she cannot, her accusation becomes a confession. She is no longer the victim. She is the criminal, facing flogging, prison, or death.

This is not ancient history. This is the law still on the books today. The law that Abdul El-Sayed is asking Americans not to fear.

Is that a comment around the brave lady, the man another poster quoted or something else?

That is so young. It would be rape of a minor, or statutory rape in many countries. Just a child. When I look at 9 year old girls, they are children, not to be raped. It's disgusting.

We should question these awful practices and not look away, just ignore the plight of the children to their fate.

I'm glad there are some (seems a few brave ones) who speak out about what goes on in Iran.

She says:

"I am a woman from the Middle East. I have lived under Islamist ideology. I have every right to fear it, criticize it, and speak about it.

Don’t silence us in the name of tolerance. Let us talk."

Wrong thread.

Yes- these stories are ignored. Thank you for highlighting this. The Iranian women and protesters deserve our support and admiration. They are incredibly brave.

Probably because it is the West that is directly responsible for the state of these countries. British colonialism for example brought misogyny and homophobia to civilisations in the Middle East that had no concept of such things, and now are expected to wring their hands as if they are any better.

Are you actually saying there was no misogyny or homophobia in the middle east before the 19th century?

No, Islam prohibits Misogyny and homophobia is a Western import. The Middle East was actually refreshingly progressive as far as human civilisations go. That is, until Catholic/Protestant countries like Portugal and Britain got involved in the region.

This is a joke, right? The Islamic revolution was what led to this shite. Although misogyny and homophobia throughout the world including the ME are as old as the hills. It wasn't some kind of progressive utopia before the Europeans came for fuck's sake.

Unordinary Silence: The 1400-Year Story of Women’s Resistance in Iran

It’s satire I think, although hard to tell on here sometimes

In the early 1950s Iran had a democratic government - not perfect but much better than anything since. This was overthrown by the US (with assistance from the UK) due to concerns about access to oil. They imposed the Shah, whose repressive regime spawned the Islamic revolution. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, the UK and US should shoulder some of the blame for this current mess,

That's a far cry from saying that there was absolutely no sexism though. And regardless of history, the current regime are ultimately responsible for their own action.

Yes they are responsible. They don’t have to be murderous extremists. The whole world is ignoring it.

I’m not sure that blaming the UK and US helps the women of Iran .

While there may be some elements of truth to this interpretation of events - this narrative is mostly helpful to the murderous , repressive and misogynistic Iranian regime.

Yup sounds like a way of trying to give a free pass to the IRGC.

Not their fault they are poor little terrorists.

I quite agree - I'm not excusing them but it is important to also see the context

I think it does suggest we have some responsibility though to help and support them as much as possible

Who do you want to help and support- the IRGC?

If you mean the women, how do you suggest we can support them with a terrorist regime in charge of their country who don’t want the give women any rights?

Do you mean the women and girls? What practical things can be done to help?

Women or girls I should have said, who don’t have any rights under the IRGC.

god no - the innocent population. It’s quite limited but we could accept Iranian asylum seekers (particularly women and families), petition our governments to stop supporting Iran joining UN councils with human rights remits, amplify women’s voices and donate to some of the excellent NGOs trying to document what is going on and get particularly Women’s voices heard. Oh - and not start a conflict that can’t be won and makes the government double down further on its citizens (thanks Trump).

I think it’s probably very hard for women and girls to get out 😞

I’m sure you’re right but there are significant numbers of female Iranian asylum seekers seekers.

Indeed. To some it's 'never their fault; those evil Westerners made them do it'. As if they have no agency in their own decisions. 🙄

We (the UK) didn’t start the conflict. Though I agree we should amplify women’s voices and accept female asylum seekers. I believe women are not allowed to leave Iran without their husband’s permission though.