A group of women’s rights activists, labour activists, trade unionists, and the Mothers for Peace movement gathered today in Sine (Sanandaj), Kurdistan Province, to mark International Women’s Day, despite pressure from security forces attempting to prevent the event.

The rally was attended by seven groups, including Sine Women’s Rights Activists, the Kurdistan Women’s Union, Sine Women’s Civil Rights Activists, the Mothers for Peace, the Arghavan Sports Group of Sine, the Chil Chama Mountaineering and Cultural Group, and the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union.

Participants chanted slogans in support of women’s rights and against executions and so-called “honour killings”.

A statement was read out by three women’s rights organisations, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and freedom.

The full text of the statement published by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) is as follows:

“The eighth of March is a reminder of the historic struggle of women against oppression, inequality, and exploitation. This day, rooted in the protests of female workers in the 19th century, marked the beginning of large-scale movements that achieved significant gains in political, social, and economic rights. From the fight for suffrage to resisting patriarchal systems and structural violence, women have always stood firm on the path to freedom and equality, refusing to abandon their ideals despite countless obstacles.

However, in Iran, the ruling authorities have consistently sought to deprive women of their fundamental rights through misogynistic policies. Repressive laws such as compulsory hijab, child marriage, restrictions on individual freedoms, and violations of reproductive rights serve as tools to control women and legitimise patriarchal dominance. These policies not only limit women’s freedom and autonomy but also legitimise and normalise widespread violence against them. The increasing rates of femicide, sexual violence, child abuse, and severe punishments against women highlight their dire situation in Iran. Furthermore, discrimination in the allocation of resources in the framework of the systemic inequalities of neoliberalism and economics crises disproportionately affect vulnerable segments of society, especially marginalised women, including Baluch, Kurdish, and migrant women, as well as those engaged in informal labour. In these circumstances, women, alongside other protest movements such as workers, pensioners, teachers, and students, have united in the struggle for justice and equality, amplifying the voices of resistance against structural oppression.

Women in Iran remain under the rule of a government that deeply fears their presence. This fear has intensified since the Jina Revolution and its leading slogan, “Women, Life, Freedom”, prompting the authorities to issue death sentences and prison terms against female activists. Figures such as Pakhshan Azizi, Sharifeh Mohammadi, and Verisheh Moradi, whom the state sought to silence, have become symbols of resistance against repression. These voices have not been extinguished; instead, they have grown into a global outcry against tyranny.

The women’s struggle in Kurdistan stands out as one of the most advanced examples of women’s liberation movements, serving as a model of resilience and self-organisation in the Middle East. Kurdish women have not only fought against multi-layered gender, ethnic, and class oppression but have also presented a new model of resistance, self-organisation, and liberation struggle by creating independent and organised structures. Through their steadfastness in battlefields, social movements, and intellectual circles, they have played an irreplaceable role in advancing the ideals of equality and freedom. Their participation and organisation across all aspects of political and social life affirm the undeniable truth that women’s liberation is the foundation of broader societal freedom.

The women’s movement has reached a point of no return. The awareness, organisation, and historical experience of this struggle make a return to the era of inequality and oppression impossible. Women across the world, particularly in the Middle East, will never again return to a past in which their voices were silenced. This movement is not only a fight for women’s rights but a fundamental and irreversible shift that will transform entire societies. Victory in this struggle is not a mere possibility; it is an inevitable necessity for justice and freedom.

We declare that 8 March, International Women’s Day, is a commemoration of a broad social and political movement, and women in Iran, particularly in Kurdistan, are more determined than ever to realise their aspirations. Women and men stand together against all forms of inequality and continue fighting for a world that is free, equal, and just. Therefore, this year, on the International Women’s Day, our struggle must prioritise the fight against executions, honour killings, and growing economic hardship and inequality.”

Signed by:

Kurdistan Women’s Union

Sine Women’s Rights Activists

Sine Women’s Civil Rights Activists