‘Being vocal means losing our homeland': Inside Australia's Iranian diaspora and their fight for women's rights

Two years ago this week, 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, died while in police custody in Iran -- sparking a global advocacy movement considered by many to be the first feminist uprising of this scale in the Middle East.

The movement has its roots in the Kurdish freedom movement and the grassroots efforts of Kurdish women, who have long endured intersectional oppression as ethnic minorities in Iran.?

At Jina's funeral, mourners chanted "Women, Life, Freedom" — Jin, Jiyan, Azad? — in Kurdish as she was laid to rest. Originally a Kurdish slogan advocating for women's and ethnic rights, it has since grown into a universal human rights movement that transcends Iran’s borders and unites people worldwide.?

Since then, activists among Australia’s Iranian diaspora have united in solidarity, risking their safety in the face of transnational crackdowns to advocate for change. Last weekend they came together with a clear message: The Women, Life, Freedom movement may have fallen out of the news cycle, but the threat to Iranian women continues – and Iranians around the world stand united in the push for change.

?As recently as last month, new reports continue to emerge that echo Jina’s story. Shocking footage showed Iran’s morality police violently arresting two young girls for very same ‘offence’. Just weeks later, another story came to light involving Arezoo Badri, a mother of two, who was left permanently paralysed after being shot by police who had tried to pull her over.

However, Iranian-Australian activist Moones Mansoubi, who leads non-profit SSI’s Community Refugee Welcome Centre, says change is underway. She highlighted that women in Iran are taking control over their lives by choosing to go uncovered in the streets.

“It’s a misunderstanding to think this revolution is just about wearing hijabs – the matter is much more fundamental than a choice of clothes. The hijab is tied to the identity of the Islamic Republic, which rules Iran denying women’s basic rights. The hijab is a red line – a tool the government uses to control and suppress us.

“Refusing to wear the hijab is an act of civil disobedience – it represents the government losing its grip on women.

“But the growing resistance has come with consequences. The government has responded by implementing measures such as facial recognition technology to pressure businesses into enforcing stricter laws and excluding uncovered women.”

The Islamic Regime’s brutal crackdown has led to hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of arbitrary arrests.? Some women are now in prison awaiting execution.

While political transformation in Iran may not be on the horizon, Moones says there has been a fundamental change in Iranian discourse and society.

“What’s changing is people’s mindsets. The topic of women’s rights and equality has entered our discourse, sparking discussions being led by Iranian women. Now, people are thinking about these issues and asking questions.”

“These conversations were once limited to progressive and intellectual circles within Iranian society, but this movement has brought them to the broader Iranian public.”

Research also shows this widespread support for the protest among most Iranians.

Moones says the movement’s changed the way women think about their own rights, and patriarchal attitudes amongst Iranian men are shifting too.

“Men stand shoulder to shoulder with us in this movement. You can see the change in families and workplaces – the places people have control in Iran.”

Close to home, Moones explained that a wave of change has surged through Iranian diaspora communities across Australia, empowering them to speak out.

“Since the death of Jina, none of us have seen this kind of solidary within Iranian communities in Australia before.”

Despite their diverse backgrounds, religious beliefs, and political views, the diaspora united to form the Australian United Solidarity for Iran (AUSIRAN), a network of state groups across Australia supporting the movement.

Over the past two years, AUSIRAN has organised rallies and demonstrations to raise awareness and amplify the voices of women in Iran who are being silenced.

“Every day we would hear horrible news, yet we had no one to talk about it. Gathering as a community at these rallies each weekend allowed us to connect, share our feelings and express our grievances. This helped us continue with our lives.”

Despite the continued momentum, Moones says it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Australian-Iranians to remain vocal and active due to escalating risks and threats posed by the Islamic Regimes’ transnational repression.

Although diasporic activists consider themselves safer than those in Iran, the is continuing to government’s attempt to instill fear and suppress voices to restrict their freedoms and threaten their safety. In March this year, an Iranian journalist known for his critically reporting on Iran was stabbed on the streets of London.

Moones also joins many activists who can no longer visit Iran due to the high risk of arrest at the airport.

“This was a massive dilemma for many of us. Being vocal means losing our homeland, which brings a lot of grief – many of us have family there.”

Moones says there are growing concerns about surveillance of their community in Australia, raising fears about the potential persecution of their families back in Iran. A major request of AUSIRAN’s advocacy to the Australian government is to close Iranian embassies, which is believed to be spying on activists.

Despite this, Australian-Iranian activists continue to stand alongside women and men in Iran, continuing their fight for change—a revolutionary effort that I believe fosters hope for the future.

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Learn more about AUSIRAN here.

Solidarity with Iran held a demonstration at Sydney’s Town Hall Square on Sunday, September 15 at 4:00pm. Find out more here.

This article has been published in Women's Agenda: https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/inside-australias-iranian-diaspora-and-their-fight-for-womens-rights/