RAFIF ESLEEM

Gaza- Today and throughout history, women are attacked whenever they demand their rights. In Tunisia, the new electoral law strips gender parity; it leads Tunisian women to face more obstacles to participating in political life. In Lebanon, the percentage of women candidates for the parliamentary elections was very low. The Palestinian women also face obstacles when they try to participate in politics. Iranian women are on the frontline of the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” protests that started in Iran and Rojhlilat following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini. NuJINHA spoke to Donia Ismail, head of the Creative Women’s Association, about the situation of women after the uprisings that took place in the Middle East and North Africa, known as Arab Spring.

Noting that women are most affected by political and economic crises, Donia Ismail said, “Since the uprisings that took place in 2011, the situation of Egyptian women have changed. Jordan passed an amendment to its constitution to add the term ‘Jordanian women’. Palestinian women struggled and still struggle for their rights by forming networks with Jordanian and Egyptian women.”

The gains of Palestinian women

Indicating that the uprisings encouraged Palestinian women to struggle for the liberation of Palestine, Donia Ismail said, “Palestinian women demand the raise of gender quota to play a role in Palestinian reconciliation talks. Palestinian women can now bring up new issues such as environmental justice, water sector and free movement of persons. More women’s political participation will allow Palestinian women to fight reactionary and political ideologies that ignore the role of women.”

The “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” uprising

Speaking about the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (English: Women, Life, Freedom)” uprising led by women in Iran and Rojhilat Kurdistan, Donia Ismail said, “The killing of Jina Mahsa Amini sparked anger all around the world. Her killing started the nationwide protests in the country. Iranian women are revolutionary women. They have paid a high price to change the patriarchal mentality. But they never take a step back from their struggle.”