Iranian-Canadian Samantha Tajik crowned Miss Universe Canada 2008
Iranian-Canadian Samantha Tajik was crowned the 57th annual Miss Universe Canada on Monday April 28 in downtown Toronto. Tajik will represent Canada at the July 14 Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam. - 5/3/08
Iran: Woman Activist Parvin Ardalan Receives 2 Years Suspended Sentence
The 13th branch of the Revolutionary Courts has issued a sentence in the case of Parvin Ardalan. Based on Amendment 610 and in accordance with amendment 25 of the Islamic Penal Code, the Court found Ardalan guilty on the charges of "illegal gathering and collusion and refusal to obey the orders of the police with the intent of endangering national security." - 5/2/08
Iranian woman rower Homa Hosseini books Olympic place
Homa Hosseini has secured an Olympic berth in the Women's Heavyweight Single Sculls at the Shanghai Water Sports Centre on Sunday. - 4/27/08
Iranian woman taekwondoka wins gold
Fatemeh Nemati claimed the gold medal in the women's category of the 18th Asian Senior Taekwondo Championship in Zhengzhou, China, on Sunday. -MNA - 4/27/08
Iranian women hit by cancer earlier
Iranian women seem to develop breast, cervical, uterus and ovarian cancers one decade earlier than the women around the world, head of Shahid Beheshti Medical Science University Alireza Zali said on the sidelines of a conference on women cancers. -Tehran Times - 4/22/08
Iran's Women's Basketball Team reaches semi-final of West Asian Championship
Iran's National Women's Basketball Team beat Iraq with a landslide 44 to 108 victory to reach the semi-final match of the West Asian Women's Basketball Championship. -IRNA - 4/17/08
Iran frees women's rights activist: report
Iran has freed a women's rights activist in her fifties whose arrest prompted a public protest letter signed by hundreds of her fellow campaigners, the Kargozaran newspaper reported on Thursday. -AFP - 4/17/08
Persian, Pasionaria and Princess: In Memory of Mariam Firuz (1913-2008)
A month ago this day, on March 12th, a Persian Pasionaria, referred to also as 'Red Princess', died in Tehran at age 94, testifying to the tenacity of the foremost female Communist and feminist activist of Iran. Born a princess, Mariam Firuz never wavered in the pursuit of her aim to bring modernity and the emancipation of women to Iran. Yet, apart from a sympathetic obituary with some factual flaws, by Baroness Afshar in the Guardian (March 31st) and a few articles on Persian websites, the saga and the death of this remarkable woman has gone largely unreported. -Fatema Soudavar (Farmanfarmaian) - 4/14/08
First Iranian female international volleyball referee appointed
Sadiqeh Hatemabadi Farahani has made Iranian volleyball history by becoming the first Iranian female international referee. -MNA - 4/13/08
Iranian women taekwondo team to compete in China
The Iranian women's taekwondo team will compete in the Asian Taekwondo Championship, which is being held in China from April 26 to 28. - 4/12/08
V to the Tenth: Thousands of Women Gather in New Orleans for 10th Anniversary of Global Movement to Combat Violence Against Women
Democracy Now! broadcasts from New Orleans, where thousands of women are gathering to celebrate the tenth anniversary of V-Day, the global movement to combat sexual violence against women and children. - 4/12/08
Iran: Khadijeh Moghaddam Member of Campaign and Mother's Committee Arrested
On the morning of April 8th, security police forcibly entered the home of Khadijeh Moghaddam, women's rights activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign and arrested her. -Change for Equality - 4/9/08
Iran: Award-Winning Rights Activist Charged With Spreading Propaganda
Noted Iranian rights activist Parvin Ardalan has been interrogated at the security branch of a Tehran court after being charged with spreading propaganda against the government. -RFE - 4/9/08
Afghanistan: Vocal 'Warlord' Critic Seeks To Reverse Her Expulsion From Legislature
She's been called "the bravest woman in Afghanistan" for her criticism of warlords, and even compared to Aung Sun Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar's democracy movement. Now, Malalai Joya's courage is again being put to the test. -RFE - 4/8/08
Parvin Ardalan summoned and questioned in the Revolutionary Court
Following the summons of Parvin Ardalan, women's rights activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, she appeared on Saturday April 5 at the 1st Security Branch of the Revolutionary Courts. - 4/7/08
Iran women cyclists to compete in Japan
Iran's women cyclists will compete in the upcoming Asian Cycling Championships and the 15th Asian Junior Cycling Championships in Japan. -Press TV - 4/5/08
Girl Racer
Iranian women are exploring new boundaries and opportunities in education and careers - not least female racing car champion Laleh Seddigh - until that is she was banned from competitions following allegations of engine tampering. –BBC - 4/4/08
Text of Parvin Ardalan's Speech Delivered at the Olaf Palme Foundation
The following is the English Text of the speech of Parvin Ardalan, delivered via video during the ceremony where she was presented with the Olaf Palme Award. Parvin Ardalan was due to travel to Stockholm on March 3, but was banned from travel at the last minute. Her sister received the award in her place. -Change for Equality - 3/27/08
No Swinging Allowed!: Images from the Life of Raheleh Zamani, who did not wish to Die
"She did not want to die. She wanted to live for her children; for her daughter. She would say: 'I know that when my daughter turns 15, she too will be forced into marriage. She will have to endure beatings and humiliation, and infidelity. She will have to endure what I have endured.' She did not want to die, so that perhaps she could save her daughter of a similar destiny." -Change for Equality - 3/25/08
For Whom the Bell Tolls, a Successful Course for Women in Iran
Twenty enthusiastic female coaches attended the Alzahara Physical Education College in Iran from 9th to 12th March 2008 to attend an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level One Coaches Course under the expert direction of the host country's Sima Limoochi. - 3/20/08
On Women's Captivity in the Islamic World
In the unprecedented flourishing of writings about Islam in the United States in recent years, one category of books—life stories of women—has been the most popular, attracting the attention of politicians, publishers, the media and the reading public alike. In an old narrative frame of captivity recast for the present-day reader, some of these memoirs and autobiographies portray the Muslim woman as a virtual prisoner. -Farzaneh Milani - 3/19/08
Iran's national women soccer team prepares for Asian Cup
Iran's women national soccer team was only formed 2 years ago. However, during the short time they have been building the team, practicing and playing, they have become a force in Asia to be reckoned with. The team is now preparing for the final round of the Asian Cup which will be held starting next week in Vietnam. - 3/18/08
Iranian Bloggers on international women's day
Women's rights have been severely restricted in the last two years in Iran. Some women activists have been jailed, and Zanan Magazine, a leading women's magazine was banned. Many others have been victims of security forces violence for the way they dress. -Global Voices - 3/16/08
Iran's Girl Fighter Goes for Gold
She is a real Iranian fighter, fierce and focused on taking down an opponent. At 20 years old, tae kwon do champion Sara Khoshjamal is taking her fight to Beijing. This summer she'll travel from her home on the outskirts of Tehran to the heights of the Olympic stage. -ABC News - 3/15/08
Sister of barred Iranian feminist accepts Swedish rights prize
Iranian feminist Parvin Ardalan's sister accepted a major Swedish rights award, the Olof Palme Prize, on her behalf Thursday after she was prevented by Tehran from attending the ceremony. -AFP - 3/9/08
Historically significant women in Iran and the neighboring areas
1350 - 1300 BC. Politically Influential Queen Napir Asu, Elam, Khuzistan; Around 580s B.C. Aryenis, Queen Consort of Media; Around 584 B.C. Mandane (Mandana) of Media; and many more -Massoume Price, Culture of Iran - 3/8/08
Iran: Fashionistas Push Back Against Strict Dress Code
Ali Mohammadi -- or Ali M., as he likes to be called -- spends most of his salary on trendy clothes, haircuts, and expensive skincare products. He is just one of many Iranians for whom fashion -- besides being fun -- has become a form of protest against the country's strict Islamic dress code. -RFE - 3/8/08
8th March belongs to all women everywhere: Happy International Women's Day
I come from a very mixed and rather unusual background. Women in our family have been even more different than those around them. I have seven sisters and six brothers from two fathers and five mothers. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 3/7/08
Feminist prize winner barred from leaving Iran
Iranian feminist and journalist Parvin Ardalan was prevented from leaving Iran on Sunday to travel to Sweden where she was to receive the 2007 Olof Palme Prize in Stockholm. -Amnesty International - 3/6/08
What is the One Million Signatures Campaign?
The One Million Signatures Campaign officially launched on August 27, 2006, aims to collect one million signatures in support of a petition addressed to the Iranian Parliament asking for the revision and reform of current laws which discriminate against women. -Sussan Tahmasebi - 3/2/08
Association des Chercheurs Iraniens celebrates International Women's Day in London
On March 8th 2008, International Women's Day, Association des Chercheurs Iraniens (ACI) will launch a year long programme of celebrations to honour the courage and achievements of Iranian women under oppression. - 3/1/08
Iran's UN Envoy protests US refusal to issue visas for Iranian women
Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Mohammad Khazaei has in a letter to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon protested the US refusal to issue visas for Iranian women delegation. -IRNA - 2/29/08
Iran: Authorities must support, not suppress women
The Iranian authorities should cease their harassment of women human rights defenders and take urgent steps to dismantle the discriminatory legislation they are seeking to change, Amnesty International said in a report published today. - 2/28/08
The Clouds are Stalling!
This article was written by Nasim Khosravi in honor of Maryam Hosseinkhah and Jelve Javaheri, who at that time, were in Evin Prison. In the article, Nasim Khosravi wonders about who will be the next member of the Campaign to be imprisoned, not knowing that she would be next. - 2/27/08
Iran protests US for refusing to issue visas to Iranian women delegation
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini here on Wednesday condemned the US administration's refusal for a second consecutive year to issue visas to Iranian women to attend a specialized meeting on women. -IRNA - 2/27/08
Iran's first female Olympic taekwondo qualifier in the spotlight
Dubai-based ABC News reporter Lara Setrakian is currently making a documentary about Iranian female taekwondo player Sara Khoshjamal-Fekri, the Taekwondo Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported on Friday. - 2/23/08
Iranian Activist Parvin Ardalan Tells VOA Women in Iran Struggle to Obtain Their Rights
Iranian women's activist and journalist Parvin Ardalan told Voice of America's (VOA) Persian News Network (PNN) today that "If you were a woman living in Iran, you would realize soon enough that you have to struggle to obtain your rights." - 2/23/08
Afghanistan: New Party To Focus On Women's Rights
For nearly three decades, Afghans have endured war and foreign occupation, extreme poverty, and the Taliban. Yet some suffer more than others. Not all Afghans are created equal. Fatima Nazari wants to change that. -RFE - 2/23/08
Iran: Mother says she is proud of jailed women rights activists
Raheleh Asgarizadeh and Nasim Khosravi contacted their family members on Sunday February 17, 2008 to inform them that they had been transferred to Evin's public ward 3. - 2/22/08
Iran bans female 'Schumacher'
The 31-year-old sportswoman, nicknamed "Little Schumacher" is a minor celebrity in her native country. She has also become a poster girl for Iranian women seeking to better their lot. - BBC - 2/19/08
Iran: Ayatollah Support Women's Right to Inheritance and Abortion
According to Parsine News Agency, Grand Ayatollah Mazaheri, one of the more renowned religious scholars based in Isfahan, has issued a Fatwa allowing unwed mothers to obtain abortions. - 2/18/08
Parvin Ardalan Wins the Olof Palme 2007 award
With great joy and absolute delight, we learned that our dear friend Parvin Ardalan has won the Olof Palme Award for 2007. This award is given for an outstanding achievement in the spirit of Olof Palme, the late Swedish prime minister who was assassinated in 1986. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 2/14/08
Iran: Women's Magazine Felled By Latest Government Closure
Iranian authorities' decision to shut down an influential women's magazine for "damaging society" and painting a gloomy picture of life in Iran has sparked criticism at home and in the West. -RFE - 2/14/08
Iranian women win taekwondo title
Iran has taken the championship in the international female taekwondo competitions held in the city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. -Press TV - 2/14/08
Soccer unites Iranian, German women in documentary
A dogged desire for equality and freedom -- at least for 90 minutes -- is at the heart of a documentary about a football match between the Iranian women's soccer team and a Berlin girls' squad in Tehran in 2006. -Reuters - 2/12/08
Does Iranian Government Fear Educated Women?
Who's afraid of girls? The Iranian government, it seems. Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the number of Iranian girls enrolling in universities and other institutions of higher education. While many governments would see this as a blessing worth boasting about, that's not the case in Iran. -RFE - 2/10/08
HAIL BARONESS AFSHAR!: First Iranian Woman In the House of Lords
The first Iranian woman takes up a seat on The House of Lords crossbenches as a non-party political peer in recognition of her work. -Darius KADIVAR - 2/7/08
World can be proud of female Iranian film makers
An executive manager of Australian film festival said on Wednesday, "Iranian women's presence in film making field is an honorable event the world can be proud of." - 2/6/08
Freedom in Love is One-Sided
I enter the Metro station. Like always, I am confused by the many entrances. When I finally find my way, I have to run to make it on to the train. I am so tired, that I am unable to stand. I join a group of other women and we sit on the floor of the women only car -Nafiseh Azad - 2/5/08
Great Cold and Great Shame
But what has made me absolutely mad despite the roof and snow and traffic was the terrible news that Zanan (Women) Magazine has been closed down. I am not one of their regular readers but I know that it is one the best things in Iran, and as a citizen I am proud that we have such a good magazine. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 2/1/08
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