The Story of Iranian Women: The Resistance Never Stopped

Iranian women have been standing tall for years, not just against the regime, but also against war, silence, and a male-dominated system. In June 2025, as the Middle East once again teeters on the edge of open war, Iranian women and their fight are being tested by history in one of its toughest moments.
As I write these lines, I’m not only thinking about their anger, but also their courage, their loneliness, and their stubborn hope. They carry the weight of the past and the risks of the present. And instead of being crushed by it, they keep walking forward.

Oppression Before and After the Revolution

In 1936, Reza Shah banned the wearing of the headscarf. It was a reform in the name of modernization, but also a way of forcing women into public life on the state’s terms.
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a different kind of pressure began: compulsory veiling. Once again, women’s bodies became a battlefield for ideology.
At the intersection of these two opposite eras, the same truth remained: women were never asked. Not “Do you want to uncover?” nor “Do you want to cover?” In both cases, women had no say over their bodies.

The One Million Signatures Campaign

The “One Million Signatures Campaign” that began in 2006 is still remembered. Inheritance, divorce, testimony, custody—women were simply asking for their basic rights. Even that was seen as a threat. The campaign was crushed, and its participants were taken to court.
But maybe that was the moment something broke forever: the regime didn’t just want to control their bodies—it wanted to silence their voices too.
Today, most of those women are in their 40s. The struggle isn’t over. It just looks different now.
Mahsa Amini: Not Just a Spark, But a Fire
September 2022. Mahsa Amini was detained and died in custody. Women took to the streets. They cut their hair, threw away their headscarves, and walked barefoot. They carried fear out of the private sphere and into the public one.
The slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” became a universal cry of resistance, symbolizing the rage and courage of Iranian women in the wake of Mahsa’s death.
But today, that same slogan coming from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who orders bombs to fall on women and children—feels like a cruel insult to Iranian women. It fuels their anger even more. And their refusal to tolerate such hypocrisy.

New Generation, Dancing of Defiance

At the beginning of 2025, the movement “They strike, we dance” that started in Tehran and Shiraz offered a new language of protest. Young women remove their headscarves, dance barefoot, and smile into the camera:
“When we dance, we want them to be ashamed—not of our bodies, but of the chains.”
There are no weapons, no slogans. But there is a response to fear, given through the body. Mahsa’s memory is turning into not just a remembrance, but a future.

The Strong Voices of Iranian Women

Iranian women have been targets not only today, but in every war. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), they carried the wounded, gave moral support, and gathered intelligence. But they were not just “supporters”; they died, were disabled, and suffered deep traumas.
Today, in 2025, history is not repeating—it continues with the same pain. The Israel-Iran war is once again hitting women’s lives first. The bombs don’t only strike military targets; they hit civilians’ homes, children’s schools, and women’s living spaces. This war is not only between two regimes; it is not even between two peoples. But women are, once again, at the center of it.
In the middle of such pressure, women like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, Fields Medal-winning physicist Maryam Mirzakhani, and director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad have emerged. And today, amid the Iran-Israel war, they have once again shouted from within the silence.

From Prison to Hope: Narges Mohammadi

In a letter sent to Time magazine on June 18, 2025, Narges Mohammadi addressed the international public, stating that the ongoing war between Iran and Israel is destroying not just the regimes but the people as well.
Mohammadi reported that millions of Iranians have been displaced, critical infrastructure is being targeted, there is talk of evacuating Tehran, and the possibility of attacks on nuclear facilities is creating widespread fear among the public.
“The scope of war expands by the day. Its fire will not remain confined to the lands directly involved—it will cross borders and engulf the entire world.”
Calling on Nobel Peace Prize laureates and human rights defenders, Mohammadi urged for immediate action: a ceasefire and global solidarity to end the war.
Her message went down in history as a cry for peace rising from deep within a climate of repression in Iran.

The Voice of Conscience: Jafar Panahi

Amid this war and repression, another powerful voice rose: world-renowned director Jafar Panahi. In a statement shared on his Instagram account, he spoke to humanity—clearly and directly condemning both the Iranian regime and Israel’s attacks.
“I demand an immediate end to the destructive war between the Islamic Republic and the Israeli regime. This war is a serious threat to regional peace and humanity.”
While reaffirming his connection to his country, Panahi openly rejected the legitimacy of the regime:
“This regime has neither legitimacy nor a future. It must collapse as soon as possible, and a democratic transition based on the will of the people must begin.”
He also called on the United Nations and the international community to act, urging them to push both sides toward an immediate ceasefire:
“I call on the United Nations and the international community to urgently and decisively stop the military attacks and end the killing of civilians. Ongoing silence and inaction amount to complicity in these crimes.”
His words are a tribute to the courage of Iranian women and to the people’s longing for peace.

Iranian Women at the EŞİK Meeting

The struggle of Iranian women is not only in the streets—it continues on international platforms as well. Three of these powerful voices came together at an online event organized by the Women for Equality Platform (EŞİK), based in Türkiye, on June 21, just hours before the U.S. struck Iran: Political scientist Mona Tajali, journalist Chista, and Shadi Sadr, the head of the London-based organization Justice for Iran.
Three key messages stood out during the meeting: Israel’s attacks must stop immediately. International pressure on the Islamic Republic must increase. But this process must not be shaped by foreign interventions that override the will of the Iranian people. It must be guided by the democratic voices of the people.

The Layered Oppression of Poor Women

Mona Tajali explained that after the killing of Mahsa Amini, the growing public desire for freedom made the regime even more repressive. With new hijab laws, women’s bodies have once again become targets. However, she noted that the war has weakened this internal resistance—people are now focused simply on survival. According to her, the regime is using the war atmosphere to strengthen nationalism.
Journalist Chista drew attention to the devastating impact of war on poor women in particular.
She said that 20–25% of women in Iran rely on daily income and have no social protection, and if the war lasts more than a few weeks, this group could face “biological destruction.”
“Women who flee their homes, who miscarry, who live in constant fear… Some now believe there’s no real difference between life and death. They say: If these bombs are going to destroy the regime too, let them kill me as well. I’m not alive anyway.” There are more of them than you’d think.

Neither Israel, Nor the U.S., Nor the Islamic Republic

Shadi Sadr analyzed the three main scenarios emerging in the aftermath of the war. The first is the establishment of a puppet government backed by the U.S. and Israel, led by the son of Reza Pahlavi. While foreign media claim this model is supported by the Iranian people, internet restrictions and one-sided broadcasting inside Iran make this narrative deeply disconnected from reality. The second scenario is that the regime tries to survive through nuclear negotiations. This is seen as the darkest possibility—just like after the Iran-Iraq war, it would likely bring increased repression against pro-democracy voices. The third scenario—the one that deserves support—is a fair election under UN supervision, where the people have the final say.
That’s why her message is clear: “Not the Islamic Republic. Not Israel. And not a U.S.- or Israel-backed puppet regime. This is what feminist movements and progressive organizations must understand: a third way is possible. We must build a united front for peace, democracy, and freedom—pressing for a transition process that centers the will of the people.”

The U.S. Strike and the Feared Scenario

Only a few hours after the meeting ended, news broke: the United States had launched a strike on Iran.
This development confirmed just how real and urgent the fears voiced during the meeting truly were.
The scenario Iranian women feared the most had, sadly, already begun to unfold:
“We can deal with inequality. We can deal with poverty. But when the bombs start falling, the only thing you think about is staying alive.”
This is not just a military operation—it carries the risk of cutting off the breath of civil resistance inside Iran, breaking solidarity networks, and isolating women living under constant pressure even further.
They were already silenced. Now they must run from both warplanes and the regime’s repression.
The U.S. strike threatens to delay hopes for a democratic transformation in Iran once again, handing the regime a powerful excuse to play the nationalism and “foreign enemy” cards.

Women’s Solidarity Knows No Borders

This article is a mirror held by one woman, reflecting another.
It’s a greeting to those who weren’t born on our land, but whose hearts beat to a rhythm so much like ours.
There is a connection between the Turkish woman who cut her hair for Mahsa and the Iranian refugee walking through Berlin.
That connection isn’t just political.
It’s human.
Because Iranian women aren’t only resisting—they’re planting the seeds of a new society.
They are getting educated.
They’re building digital networks.
They’re writing poetry.
They’re writing code.
And they are all asking the same question:
“What kind of future will rise, if we stay silent?”
This resistance is not just a revolt—it’s an act of creation.
Because when women speak, everything can change.