Monday, October 26, 2026

ماهنامه شماره یکصد و چهل وچهارم رهائی زن - قاتلان غریبه نبودند، خانه قتلگاه شان شد!

Here is an English translation of RahaiZan (The Organization for Emancipation of Women) – Issue #144 (October & November 2026 / Mehr & Aban 1405):

Page 1: Cover & Publication Details

  • Motto: The liberation and equality of women is the measure of society's emancipation.

  • Publication: Journal of the Organization for Emancipation of Women — Issue No. 144

  • Organization: The Organization for Emancipation of Women (RahaiZan.org)

  • Editor-in-Chief: Mino Hemati (Email: minohemati@gmail.com)

  • Managing Editor: Sharareh Rezaei (Email: shararehrezaei.p@gmail.com)

  • Periodicity: Monthly (3rd Series, Issue 144)

  • Date: October & November 2026 (Mehr & Aban 1405)

Main Cover Highlights:

  • The Killers Were No Strangers, Home Became Their Slaughterhouse!

  • The Killing of 15 Women — Only in the Month of Mehr This Year (Spouses, Brothers, Fathers, and Sons at the Top of the List of Killers)

Table of Contents:

  • Freedom: From Demand to Responsibility – Alieh Dadgar

  • Girls in the Shadow of War and Violence: Stolen from Childhood to Unfulfilled Rights – Elahe Amani

  • Only in the Month of Mehr This Year, 15 Women Were Killed by Their Closest Relatives

  • What is Solidarity? – Ferdows Dini

  • Femicide is Not a Family Dispute – Shahla Rezaei

  • A Report on the Roots of a Systematic Crime: Femicide Under the Guise of "Honor Killings" – Mohammad Bahaeddin Vahedi Yeganeh

  • When "Honor" Becomes an Excuse for Murder – Farideh Salavati

  • Report on the Conference "Let's Break the Silence: International Experience of Women Against State Police Sexual Violence" (Held on October 18 with over 300 attendees in Berlin)

  • Damn War, Damn Warmongers and Blood Merchants – Sharareh Rezaei

  • The Butchering of Humans in the Name of Honor: A Protest Against the Culture of Cleaver and Zeal – Mahnaz Salavati

  • Courage (A poem by Ferdows Dini)

  • Report on the World Day Against the Death Penalty in Hanover, Germany (Reporter: Farideh Salavati)

  • Honor That Cannot Be Washed Away with Blood! – Afshin Salavati

  • Reason (A poem by Qodsi Ahmadi)

  • Join the Emancipation of Women Publication (Call for articles on social, legal, psychological, sociological, and health issues, personal life reports of women and children, poems, news, translations, book/film reviews, and media links at Markazi@RahaiZan.org)

Page 2: Freedom; From Demand to Responsibility

By Alieh Dadgar

How is a free society built? Freedom is not merely the liberation from a tyrannical government; it is a historical responsibility to build a political order where power derives its legitimacy from the people, is accountable to them, and is limited by law and democratic institutions. A society that has lived for years under the pressure of repression, discrimination, censorship, and the centralization of power must overcome fear to achieve freedom. But moving past fear is not the end of the road. The fundamental question is: What do we want to build after tyranny, and how do we prevent its reproduction?

From Changing Government to Changing Power Structures

The fight against tyranny leads to freedom only when its goal is not merely the replacement of rulers. If power remains centralized, unaccountable, and immune to public oversight, changing individuals will not guarantee freedom. Iran’s future requires a political system where no individual, party, institution, or religious/political current stands above the law. Power must be limited, elective, monitorable, and transferable, allowing citizens to change their rulers through democratic and peaceful means. Democracy is more than just holding elections; elections are free and meaningful only when citizens have real choices, independent parties operate freely, the media is free, the judiciary is independent, and political opponents are not suppressed for their beliefs or activities.

The separation of powers, public oversight, term limits, the accountability of officials, and the independence of judicial and media institutions are among the most crucial obstacles to the concentration of power. Military and security forces must also be subordinate to the law and elected institutions, rather than acting as independent political players. The constitution must guarantee citizens' rights and limit the government's authority, rather than becoming a tool to consolidate individual or factional power.

Freedom is Impossible Without Equality

A free society is not one that recognizes freedom for only a portion of the people. Women and men, believers and non-believers, majorities and minorities, supporters and opponents of the government must enjoy equal political and civil rights. Iranian women have fought for years against legal and social discrimination and have played a decisive role in political and social developments. They must not merely be the subjects of others' decisions; they must participate as equal citizens in legislation, management, and decision-making. Gender equality must not be a promise for the future; it must be one of the foundational principles of Iran’s future political system.

Separation of Religion and State

Freedom and equality cannot be guaranteed without separating the institution of religion from the state. This separation does not mean hostility toward religion; rather, it means ending the political and legal privilege of a single religion and guaranteeing freedom of conscience for all citizens. The government must not decide on citizens' religious beliefs, dress codes, or lifestyles. Believers and non-believers must have equal rights before the law.

The Right to Dissent as a Prerequisite

A democratic society cannot be formed without independent opposition parties and the possibility of political competition. Opposing the government must not be considered a crime. The true test of democracy is not how we treat those who agree with us, but how we treat those who disagree with us. The forces demanding freedom today must respect the right of others to dissent. If we demand freedom of speech only for those who think like us, suppress opponents, or view political defeat as treason, we have reproduced an authoritarian culture—even if the names and forms of government have changed.

From saying "no" to tyranny to opposing despotism is the starting point of the struggle for a free society, not its end. Iran’s future requires a clear program for the post-Islamic Republic era—a program based on freedom of speech, free elections, the rule of law, judicial independence, the separation of powers, the equality of women and men, the separation of religion from state, equal citizens' rights, and the peaceful transfer of power. However, these principles gain meaning only when guaranteed within political and legal structures where people can oversee their implementation.

Iran’s new generation is not merely the heir to past crises; it also holds the possibility of building a different future. The historical responsibility of this generation is to ensure that the fight against tyranny does not end in a new despotism. Freedom is the beginning of our responsibility: building an a free, equal, and democratic society.

Pages 3–7: Girls in the Shadow of War and Violence: Stolen from Childhood to Unfulfilled Rights

By Elahe Amani

Introduction & International Context

October 11 is designated as the International Day of the Girl Child. This day arrived this year amidst unprecedented global turmoil and political transformations—from war and violence in Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and Ukraine to political unrest and violent protests in parts of Europe such as Albania and France. Poverty, armed conflict, forced displacement, child labor, violence, and exploitation place children, especially girls, at heightened risks. In many parts of Africa and the world, religious fundamentalism, authoritarian governments, and right-wing populist movements have intensified resistance against gender equality.

According to research published by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), more than 520 million children—over one in five children globally—live within 50 kilometers of violent events related to armed conflict. Approximately 1.6 billion children live in countries affected by conflict and strife.

Child Marriage and Digital Eras

Child marriage heavily impacts a girl’s entire life, interrupting education, causing early pregnancies, severe health risks, domestic and sexual violence, and limiting economic opportunities. Globally, data shows profound concerns: according to UNESCO’s HerAtlas, only 26% of countries have set 18 as the absolute minimum legal age of marriage without exceptions. Around 54% have exceptions permitting marriage under 18, and 18% still allow underage marriage.

In Iran, evidence surrounding child marriage in the digital age is deeply alarming. The 1500 Tasvir / Iran Human Rights Documentation Center / Haalvsh / HRA reports have highlighted platforms like the state-licensed matchmaking platform "Adam and Hava" (Adam and Eve), managed under the Imam Reza Society (headed by Hossein Yektak, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). While the app claims female users must be over 15, registration accepts birth years matching children as young as 12, and search filters permit looking for partners starting at age 13. Following a joint call by human rights organizations, Google removed the app from Google Play on October 9, 2026, for violating its policies, and Meta removed associated accounts from Instagram.

In Iran's Civil Code, the general minimum age of marriage is set at 13 lunar years for girls and 15 lunar years for children/boys, though marriage at younger ages is permissible with paternal/guardian permission and court approval. Between winter 2021 and autumn 2022, registered marriages under age 15 totaled 27,448. Tragic cases include Yeganeh Hosseinzehi (married off at age 10-11 to her cousin, murdered by her husband at age 16) and Ghazal (Mona) Heydari (married at 12, murdered by her husband in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, in February 2022 at age 17).

In the United States, up to October 2026, 32 states still permit marriage under 18 under certain legal exceptions (such as parental consent or court approval), though states like California recently banned child marriage entirely without exceptions. Between 2000 and 2018, nearly 300,000 children married in the U.S., the vast majority being minor girls marrying adult men.

Page 7: What is Solidarity?

By Ferdows Dini

To understand solidarity, we must first understand what a human being is. If we view humans as entirely independent, self-sufficient, and isolated entities, solidarity becomes nothing more than a social contract. But if we understand humans as relational beings, the story changes. Humans are not born in a vacuum; they are born in relationship with "the Other".

This brings us to a crucial triad: Relationality, Vulnerability, and Interdependence.

  • If a human is a relational being, they are also an interdependent being.

  • If they are interdependent, they are vulnerable.

  • Human dignity carries with it a responsibility toward the Other. This responsibility births solidarity.

Solidarity is not merely an act of "goodness" or "altruism"; it is a response to a fundamental truth about the realization of human existence.

Pages 8–9: Femicide is Not a Family Dispute

By Shahla Rezaei

When a woman is killed, her name circulates on social media for a few days, a photo from when she was alive is published, and captions read: "Killed by her husband," "Killed by her father," "Killed by her brother." Then, motivated by "honor," the case fades away until the next victim.

Femicide is often the final stop on a long road of control, humiliation, threats, psychological, economic, and physical violence. Before murder, violence goes by polite names: control is called "care," jealousy is called "love," limitation is called "zeal/honor," and ownership is called "family protection".

The Legal Framework and Accountability

The government cannot legislate women's hair, clothing, and private lives, yet claim the "privacy of the family" when a woman's life is in danger. Domestic violence is not privacy; death threats are not family matters; femicide is not a family dispute.

  • Article 301 of the Islamic Penal Code exempts fathers and paternal grandfathers from qisas (retribution in kind) for murdering their children.

  • Article 630 grants special legal exemptions to a man who kills his wife and her partner upon witnessing adultery.

On October 13, 2026, Maryam Yarmohammadi was stabbed to death by her brother. Laws are not just printed words in books; a government that legislates how women live cannot remain a spectator when they are murdered.

Page 9: A Report on the Roots of a Systematic Femicide

By Mohammad Bahaeddin Vahedi Yeganeh

Femicides described in the media as "honor killings" are rooted in three main factors:

  1. The Law and Impunity for Killers: The legal structure grants immunity to killers (such as Article 301 exempting parents from retribution), signaling that perpetrators face no serious legal consequences.

  2. The Link Between Domestic and Public Repression: The ruling political structure views a woman's life and body as ideological property, stripping her of choices. This misogynistic mindset is reproduced in the home.

  3. The Need to Change Media Terminology: Terms like "honor killing" or "crimes of passion" provide justification and excuses for criminals. Media and civil society must replace these with the term "Femicide" to expose the true nature of these crimes.

Page 10–11: Report on the Conference "Let’s Break the Silence" (Berlin, October 18)

On October 18, over 300 participants gathered in Berlin for an international conference titled "Let's Break the Silence: International Experience of Women Against State Police Sexual Violence".

Speakers emphasized that state-led sexual violence is used to intimidate, humiliate, and break political resistance. Women from various political struggles in Turkey, the Basque Country, Iran, and the Philippines shared testimonies. Comrades from the Prison Discussion Collective reported on sexual violence against political prisoners in Iran since the 1960s, particularly highlighting abuses against girls and women during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" revolutionary movement and the nationwide uprising of Dey 1404 (January 2026). Representatives from Palestinian legal organization Lawshewa, Kurdish and Turkish socialist organizations, and activist groups like Zora and FKO (Federation of Class Struggle Organizations) also spoke, emphasizing women's collective solidarity and resistance.

Page 11: Damn War, Damn Warmongers and Blood Merchants

By Sharareh Rezaei

“War is yours; blood is ours. Profit is yours; graves are ours.”

Wars are fabricated by those in power whenever their interests require it. When they profit from peace, they sit at tables clinking champagne glasses; when they profit from war, they send the people's children to slaughter each other. They promise grieving mothers paradise, broken fathers medals of honor, and wives and sisters flags to drape over coffins. Down with any power that sacrifices human survival for its own continuity! Long live humanity, long live peace, down with the ideology of war!

Page 12: The Butchering of Humans in the Name of Honor

By Mahnaz Salavati

For years, crimes have been hidden behind words like "zeal," "dignity," and "honor". The killer is portrayed as an angry, grieving man, while the victim is put on trial even after death. Honor killings are not a tragedy of honor; they are crimes born of the illusion of ownership and domination.

  • A woman is nobody's honor; she is neither family property nor an instrument to maintain tribal reputation. She is an independent human being with the right to choose, love, make mistakes, and live.

Page 13: Report on the World Day Against the Death Penalty in Hanover, Germany

Reporter: Farideh Salavati

Observed annually on October 10 since 2003, the World Day Against the Death Penalty highlights the irreversible nature of capital punishment. The death penalty violates the fundamental right to life and human dignity recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Activists gathered in Hanover, Germany, under slogans demanding an end to executions, calling for justice, human rights, and the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran regime.

Page 14: Honor That Cannot Be Washed Away with Blood!

By Afshin Salavati

We frequently hear tragic news: a girl or woman whose life is ended by her closest relatives simply due to suspicion, a different personal choice, or fear of community gossip.

  • We must learn that no honor is washed away with blood. Nothing in this world is more sacred than the sanctity of human life. Solving this problem requires communication, abandoning rigid prejudices, and acting as a sanctuary for those under threat rather than their executioners.

Page 15: Contact Information & Media Channels


 

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