“It seems as if the regime is unable to pay the high price of confronting women,” says Azadeh Forghani, a women’s rights activist. Forghani is awaiting hearing on charges that have been pressed against her: “Though they had set a date for my court appearance last week, after an hour of waiting, they adjourned the date because the prosecutor did not show up.”

Forghani adds, “I have received another summons for the 23rd of Esfand [March 13], which is the court’s last working day prior to the New Year holidays.” Forghani also talked about the widespread detention of women’s rights activists on June 12: “Arresting 70 people was a really strange event. Essentially, no one could predict it, because we had passed the oppression of the 1980s and the 1990s. Arresting 70 activists in 2006 was a strange event, and this is why the regime has to pay a heavy price for it.”

“In effect, no one remembers such widespread confrontation with women’s rights activists, especially in this day and age. There were some confrontations in the 1980s but the scope of what happened last June was much larger. During our arrest and interrogation, we could all witness the frustration of the offices. After they moved us from Eshratabad to Evin Prison, every interrogator and officer who saw us was surprised to see that many detainees. That same night they freed many of us.”

“Some of us,” continues Forghani, “were kept at Evin’s Ward 209 for a week. Most of us were charged with the same things: participating at an illegal gathering, acting against national security, disturbing public order, etc. Amazingly, some of us were charged for ‘abnormal movements’ [that resembled dancing]. We cannot actually accept such charges.”

When asked about abnormal movements, Farghani said, “It seems like this strange charge was related to the kind of slogans that we were chanting at the 7 Tir Square in July.”

Farghani then spoke about her new court date: “Perhaps they adjourned the court date because they want to see what happens on March 8 [International Women’s Day], and how we would act on that day.”

“I hope that all activists and active women’s rights groups reach a consensus on the issues, so that they are able to take a constructive step in realizing the rights and wants of women.”

At the end, Farghani noted, “I hope that at least some women’s rights activists can find an opportunity on March 8 to speak about the neglected rights of women.”