{"id":335146,"date":"2025-08-04T09:44:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T08:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=335146"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:44:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T08:44:20","slug":"why-i-fight-for-a-secular-iran-as-a-muslim-woman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-resistance\/why-i-fight-for-a-secular-iran-as-a-muslim-woman\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Fight for a Secular Iran as a Muslim Woman"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_265752\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-265752\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-265752 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iran-revolution-23102022.jpg\" alt=\"iran-revolution-23102022\" width=\"1000\" height=\"622\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-265752\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crowds of protesters gathered during the 2022 uprising in Tehran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>Four-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In today\u2019s Iran, faith has become a tool of oppression, discrimination and fear rather than offering spiritual guidance towards enriching human society and its values. As a Muslim woman, I have not only witnessed this distortion of Islam, I\u2019ve also endured the burden of being <a href=\"https:\/\/wncri.org\/2024\/10\/21\/approved-hijab-bill-gender-apartheid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">misrepresented by a regime<\/a> that claims to speak in the name of my faith.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But let me be clear: Not only is there no contradiction between being a Muslim and believing in the separation of religion and state, but according to the teachings of true Islam, sovereignty belongs to the people, and it is they who must determine it. In fact, I believe such a vision is the only path toward restoring dignity, both for religion and for the people.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Faith and Freedom Are Not Opposites<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My faith shapes my values, strengthens my resilience, and inspires compassion. But it is not a tool for governance. My faith is opposed to forced religion, forced government, and forced veiling, especially in a country as diverse as Iran. Democracy, by definition, can only flourish when there is a clear separation between religion and state, where people of all faiths or none are treated equally under the law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In November 1985, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/faith-religion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> NCRI adopted a plan<\/a> regarding the separation of religion and state for a future Iran, in which all forms of discrimination against followers of various religions and denominations in the enjoyment of their individual, social, and political rights are prohibited. Also, \u201cthe right of all religions and denominations to teach, proselytize, and freely perform their rituals and traditions, and the respect and security of all places belonging to them, are guaranteed.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">No to Compulsory Religion. The core of Islam is faith by choice, not force. Iran&#39;s clerical regime abuses Islam to maintain its grip on power. The NCRI advocates for religious freedom and rejects any form of religious privilege.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NCRIAlternative?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NCRIAlternative<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3VXd2d8rlv\">https:\/\/t.co\/3VXd2d8rlv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elaheh Azimfar (@ElahehAzimfar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElahehAzimfar\/status\/1900668939799326990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to this plan, Shari\u2019a courts and religious penalties such as stoning, amputations, and executions imposed by the current inhuman regime will all be dissolved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran\u2019s contemporary history has shown us what happens when this boundary is violated. The ruling regime has committed countless crimes under the banner of Islam. But the Islam I believe in, and the one practiced by the members of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) enshrines freedom of belief. As the Quran says, \u201cThere is no compulsion in religion.\u201d That verse is not just a phrase; it is a principle of justice, and it\u2019s central to both my spirituality and my political convictions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is why I stand with the PMOI, the focal organization of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its core values: democracy, pluralism, gender equality, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryam-rajavi.com\/en\/viewpoints\/for-secularism-in-iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">secular governance<\/a>. I support a future Iran where religion belongs in the heart, not in the hands of power.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian resistance movement: No to compulsory hijab, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory rule.<\/p>\n<p>The right to freely choose their clothing and attire.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/42YvYeIJES\">https:\/\/t.co\/42YvYeIJES<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elaheh Azimfar (@ElahehAzimfar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElahehAzimfar\/status\/1894787652131385526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Misconceptions About the PMOI<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PMOI was the founding force behind the NCRI, a coalition that includes people from all walks of life, secular, religious, leftist, and more. Over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/about-ncri\/ncri\/introduction-to-the-national-council-of-resistance-of-iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">50% of NCRI members are women<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite being the largest group within the NCRI, the PMOI holds no more voting power than any other member. This model of shared leadership is rare and impressive. It reflects the PMOI\u2019s deep commitment to democratic decision-making and inclusivity, values that go far beyond religious affiliation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PMOI\u2019s unifying principles are straightforward:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>No to the ruling theocracy.<\/li>\n<li>No return to the Shah\u2019s dictatorship.<\/li>\n<li>Yes to separation of religion and state.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Any group or individual that supports these three principles is welcome to join the \u201cNational Solidarity Front\u201d regardless of their broader political beliefs. This openness is what makes the coalition strong and resilient, even under brutal repression.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If some groups have distanced themselves, it is often not by choice. The Iranian regime has made public affiliation with the PMOI extremely dangerous, resulting in imprisonment, torture, and execution. But despite the risks, more and more young people and women inside Iran are joining the <a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/iranian-resistance-units\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PMOI\u2019s Resistance Units<\/a>. That reality speaks louder than any propaganda.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">And don&#39;t forget he is killing both Shia and Sunnis in Iran because he is mad about power, not about religion. But the Iranian people and their resistance will rid Iran, the Middle East, and the whole world of him.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreeIran2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FreeIran2025<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qcQhKxhse6\">https:\/\/t.co\/qcQhKxhse6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elaheh Azimfar (@ElahehAzimfar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElahehAzimfar\/status\/1879491567159071104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hijab, Choice, and the Right to Dignity<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a woman who chooses to wear the hijab, I am often asked where I stand on women\u2019s freedom of dress. My answer is simple: I fully support every woman\u2019s right to choose what she wears. Whether she chooses the hijab or not, her decision must be respected without force, fear, or judgment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iranian women have suffered under both extremes. Under Reza Shah, they were forced to remove their hijabs. After 1979, Khomeini forced them to wear it. Both were violations of personal freedom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryam-rajavi.com\/en\/biography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maryam Rajavi,<\/a> the President-elect of the NCRI, has beautifully summarized this vision: No to compulsory veil. No to compulsory religion. No to compulsory government.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let me share a moment in history that defines this principle. In the early days after the 1979 revolution, when Iranian women took to the streets to protest forced veiling, they were surrounded by regime thugs. Who came to their defense? PMOI women; women who wore the veil themselves stood between the attackers and the protestors. They formed a human shield, defending the right to choose, even if the choice was different from their own.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That\u2019s the kind of women&#8217;s liberation I believe in. That\u2019s the kind of Iran we must build.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Iran<\/a> Mullahs&#39; crimes in abuse of religion go beyond human imagination. It is a must 2 get rid of this evil regime. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Qotui9tRJy\">https:\/\/t.co\/Qotui9tRJy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elaheh Azimfar (@ElahehAzimfar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElahehAzimfar\/status\/744940599699177472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 20, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reclaiming Islam from the Mullahs<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The regime has defiled Islam for its own interests. But the right response is not to abandon faith or to shame those who still hold it. The answer is, first, to allow tolerant and democratic Muslims like the PMOI to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/-\/en\/Islamic-Fundamentalism-New-Global-Threat\/dp\/092976532X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">expose Islamic fundamentalism<\/a> and present their modern, humane interpretation of Islam. And second, to separate faith from power, so that every individual can reclaim their beliefs freely, without coercion or manipulation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trust is rebuilt not through slogans but through action. The PMOI and NCRI have never imposed religion. They have fought and sacrificed for a country where no one will ever again be jailed or killed because of what they believe or what they wear.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a Muslim woman, I am standing for the same freedom I want for every Iranian: To live with dignity. To choose one\u2019s path. To think, believe, speak, and act freely.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And yes, I believe this future is not only possible; it\u2019s near.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Four-minute read In today&rsquo;s Iran, faith has become a tool of oppression, discrimination and fear rather than offering spiritual guidance towards enriching human society and its values. As a Muslim [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":265752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[222],"class_list":{"0":"post-335146","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-resistance","8":"tag-iranian-resistance"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why I Fight for a Secular Iran as a Muslim Woman - NCRI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Four-minute read In today\u2019s Iran, faith has become a tool of oppression, discrimination and fear rather than offering spiritual guidance towards enriching\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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