Our Correspondent recently in Tehran: Iran – Workers Resist Khomeini’s Attempt to Turn Clock Back

[Militant, No 448, 23 March 1979, p 2]

„Sin may not be committed in Islamic ministries. Women should not be naked at work in these ministries … they must be clothed according to religious standards.“

With these words, Ayatollah Khomeini, leader of the Central Revolutionary Islamic Committee, on 7^th March launched a drive to force Iranian women to wear the traditional Muslim attire [the hijab], and in particular the chador [a veil] covering their hair.

Fanatical supporters of Khomeini immediately went into action attacking women not wearing a veil. Three Tehran secondary schools for girls were forced to close the next day as Muslim zealots attacked unveiled students.

Following the statement of the ayatollah’s son-in-law, Hojatol-lslam-Esharqui, that all women “including those of religious minorities“ should wear a chador, schoolgirls at the Mariam Catholic School in Tehran were also attacked by a mob.

Outside the Ministry of Agriculture, men shouting „Naked women are no longer allowed here“ turned away many of the secretaries trying to go to work.

But Khomeini’s attempt to turn the clock back and enforce the permanent relegation of women to second-class status has aroused enormous opposition. There had already been women’s demonstrations against the new regime’s abolition of the Family Protection Law. Which even though it was passed by the Shah. did give women some rights in matters such as divorce and family property. and against the ending of co-education in Iran.

Demonstrations began at once in Tehran against this attempt to turn society back to the dark ages.

Nurses in several hospitals went on strike until a decision was reached on whether they would have to wear a chador. Women’s demonstrations and individual women on the streets were subject to violent attacks by religious fanatics.

But these attacks on the women were provoking protests from the workers and youth.

When a bus driver – to give one example – started physically attacking a march made up of some 300 schoolgirls, aged between 13 and 15, bravely protesting at being forced to wear the chador. bystanders who h,ad been standing watching the girls, immediately stepped in and vigorously dealt with the bus driver.

Fearing serious trouble over this issue, mullahs (priests) more in touch with the mood of the masses realised that some retreat had to be made.

Ayatollah Taleghani from Tehran. who is more sensitive to the mood of the people than Khomeini, tried to explain that Khomeini ’s statement was „more of a wish than an order“ and that „It is not a question of imposing the chador. When we talk about the hijab, we mean dignified dress, the veil of dignity, the veil of personality.“

Despite this statement, however, demonstrations continued, and spread to Tabriz and Abadan. Such widespread anger at the attacks on unveiled women forced Khomeini’s spokesmen to make statements denouncing the zealots, and even Khomeini’s Committee sent some of their militiamen to protect women’s marches in Tehran.

Faced with this mounting opposition Khomeini himself, five days after his original statement, was forced to retreat, ‚The views expressed by Ayatollah Taleghani about the hijab, he announced. „are identical with mine.“

The Iranian revolution began as a movement against the Shah’s dictatorship and for an improvement in the conditions of the masses. The Iranian workers and middle class interpreted the speeches of the mullahs, especially Khomeini. as a call for a struggle against the Shah and for freedom and a better life.

The reactionary, religious ideas of the mullahs played no part in rallying the Iranian people, especially the working class. against the Shah. This is why now. when the mullahs are attempting to turn the clock back and implement their reactionary ideas, they are being called to a halt by the workers and other radicalised sections who are determined that they will never again be forced to suffer a reactionary, repressive regime.