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Unity Beyond Borders

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The Woman, Life, Freedom uprising is a powerful movement advocating for women’s rights in Iran, sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini. Mahsa, a Kurdish Iranian woman, became a symbol of all women and their daily struggles living in Iran when she was killed by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly. Her death drew global
attention to the injustices in Iran, highlighting her identity as a Kurdish woman. This is a key
aspect when discussing how transnationality affects the movement in general. Umar states, “As feminists and sisters in transnational solidarity, we refuse to be constrained by the perils of right- wing nationalist boundaries within our respective countries” (I Stand in Awe of Iranian Women,
2019). There is a need for transnational solidarity among oppressed women, who must come
together to tackle the serious issues they encounter.

As Manijeh Moradian writes in "Embodying Revolution”, the protests began in Amini’s hometown of Saqqez, Iranian Kurdistan, where her family “engraved the following message on her tombstone: ‘Dear Jina, you won’t die. Your name will become a symbol” (P. 164). Her family’s decision sent a message that the struggles of Iranian women are linked to the layered ethnic, linguistic, religious, and class challenges they encounter (165).

This brings into focus the importance of transnational solidarity, where diverse women’s experiences unite against authoritarian structures. The Combahee River Collective, a Black feminist organization in the U.S., similarly emphasized the importance of intersectionality in understanding oppression. The article states, "We are actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression." For Kurdish women like Mahsa, their ethnicity intensifies the violence they face. Just as the Combahee River Collective called for solidarity among marginalized groups, today’s Iranian women have come together, despite their ethnic differences, to demand fundamental rights.

Iran is home to numerous ethnic groups, including Kurds, Persians, and Balochs, who are all united under a single goal. By recognizing their shared struggles, these women have created a powerful movement for gender equality. Real freedom comes from working together, no matter our different backgrounds, ethnicities, or social classes.

-K.A.

References:

Hamidi, Yalda N. “Transnational Solidarity With #WomanLifeFreedom: ‘I Stand in Awe of Iranian Women’ - Ms. Magazine.” Ms. Magazine, September 14, 2023. https://msmagazine.com/2023/09/14/iran-women-muslim/.

Moradian, Manijeh. (2024). Embodying Revolution. Radical History Review. 2024. 164-170. 10.1215/01636545-10846893. 

BBC News. 2023. “Iran Protests: Mahsa Amini’s Grave Attacked by Vandals,” May 23, 2023, sec. Middle East. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65682182.
 

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