The Significant Role of Women and MEK Iran in the Recent Student Protests

On January 8, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down a Ukrainian plane with a surface-to-air missile, killing all 176 people on board. After three days of trying to apologize, the regime acknowledged its responsibility, triggering a series of protests in Iran.

This kind of behavior is not new to the regime, much less the response of the courageous Iranian demonstrators, both men and women, in facing the regime. However, one of the most significant features of this recent wave of protests has been the role of Iranian women in leading, organizing and pioneering various scenes.

Anyone who follows the Iranian resistance is aware of the strong participation and leadership of women in the struggle to overthrow the religious dictatorship that looms over Iran. Filming of the November riots, which spread to 191 cities across the country, clearly demonstrate that women hold the lead in protests. Videos of recent protests started by college students show something new: young women and girls are playing a significant role in leading the protests and mobilizing others to participate. They are running boldly to resist the Basij regime and IRGC forces, running the risk and consequences of being arrested, tortured (and sexual violence and harassment is almost always used for women) or hit by snipers from the IRGC.

On the first day of the protests, MEK Iran sources reported the recorded footage of the scene of several brave demonstrators who were trying to stop security forces while driving their motorcycles to the front rows of the protest. In dozens of video clips published online through the MEK Iran network, women at the head of the demonstrations can be observed, and their voices guided, dozens of slogans shouted by the demonstrators.

During the November riot, more than 400 women were killed by Pasadaran criminals from the IRGC, undercover agents and Basiji forces, Reuters reported. Thousands more have been arrested and are now subjected to torture in inhuman conditions in the regime's prisons. The regime's interior minister commented on the role of Iranian women in the recent uprising during his comments on various protests across Iran. Referring to the MEK Iran resistance units, he said: “In the streets, two or three hours after sunset, we encountered some forces in these places which operated as units made up of five or four or six people. Usually, they were accompanied by a woman who encouraged others and invited them to join the protest.”

He added: “In various parts, especially in the suburbs of Tehran, women, between 30 and 35 years old, had a special role in leading the riots ... The special role of women in leading the recent riots seemed remarkable.”

Iranian opposition leader, president-elect of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Maryam Rajavi praised the role of the MEK Iran resistance units, the young rebels, and in particular the women, in her message after the insurrection in November, saying: “Hello to our rebel cities that they compete in triggering the insurrection and bringing down the occupation of the mullahs. From Shiraz and Sadra to Shahriar and Islamshahr, to Sirjan, to Isfahan, Karaj and Fardis, to Marivan and Sanandaj, to Javanroud and Kermanshah, to Behbahan, Mahshahr and Bushehr and other rebel cities.

Iranian cities are raising one after the other everywhere; women actively participate, guiding and supporting protesters. We have already said that women are the force of change and will defeat the reactionary and religious tyranny of the mullahs. Now, watch the riot scenes. Watch how our courageous sisters encourage people to protest, rebel and lead protest units.”

Rajavi also compared the November insurgency with previous riots in Iran and reiterated: “The difference is that the leading role of women and young rebels, who no longer tolerate the 40-year-old oppression of criminal mullahs, and the sacrifices made by hundreds of martyrs, they have strengthened the will of the Iranian people to rebel and rebel a hundred times more.”

As Iranian resistance leader Massoud Rajavi said: “The Iranian people and resistance have paid a heavy and bloody price for this huge and irreversible leap forward.” What is obvious is that Iran's brave girls and women have role models that have given them the courage and potential to break through the atmosphere of terror and persecution in Iran. More than a thousand MEK Iran’s women, led by a charismatic leader, Maryam Rajavi, have resisted the most difficult and brutal circumstances for decades. These women resisted numerous attacks by the criminal Iranian regime and its delegates while they were at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty and became symbols of perseverance for all young people, but especially for women. In her message to the rebellious youth after the November insurrection, Ms. Rajavi said: “The insurgent women of Iran have gone down to the battlefield to bring down the regime.”